Question NW644 to the Minister of Health
17 March 2023 - NW644
Marais, Ms P to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he has been informed that in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) do not arrive to collect patients when they are called; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I am aware that there were concerns raised by communities regarding provision of ambulances services around Botshabelo and Mangaung in 2022 in Free State. I am also aware that the MEC of Health in the Free State has also responded to some of the communities and have acceded to some of these challenges in this regard.
Pertaining to this particular incident in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality where an ambulance did not arrive to collect a patient when an emergency call was made to the Emergency Communication Centre, I was not informed of this. The lack of details on this particular matter makes it difficult to make an enquiry.
I have however been informed by the province that the Public Emergency Medical Services in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality currently operates with 26 ambulances distributed as follow:
- Bloemfontein 11
- Botshabelo 6
- Thaba Nchu 5
- Wepener 1
- Dewetsdorp 2
- Soutpan 1
The public also has an opportunity to report the matter through the Free State Department of Health’s complaints system.
END.