Question NW3592 to the Minister of Health
26 October 2015 - NW3592
Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health
(a) Which third parties have been contracted for the provision of ambulance services in each province and (b) what is the (i) length and (ii) value of each contract in each case?
Reply:
a) Free State Province: There is an existing contract between the Provincial EMS and Buthelezi Ambulance Service.
North West Province: Private Emergency Medical Services are contracted for provision of services only when there are outstanding emergency calls.
b) (i) Free State Province: The contract with Buthelezi Ambulance Service is for three years, which commenced on 1 December 2013.
North West Province: The MOU with the private Emergency Medical Services is for a year, which is renewed on a yearly basis.
(ii) Free State Province: Buthelezi Ambulance Service is mainly used for inter-hospital transfers and benefits include:
- EMS ambulances are available for primary response community emergencies;
- Improved EMS response times;
- There is a positive impact on maternal and obstetric cases;
- The life span of the provincial ambulances is increased because of reduced kilometres being travelled. This has a direct impact on the on the monthly fleet expenditure;
- There is a reduction in overtime for EMS staff;
- Nurses do not leave their facilities during transfers.
North West Province: The MOU states that the private service will be used as and when the need arises and the services are rendered at the Uniformed Patient Fee Schedule rates.
The main benefit is that the response time to the Priority 1 patient (emergency) has improved.
END.