Question NW50 to the Minister of Health
23 February 2024 - NW50
Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Why are there no dedicated ambulances stationed at public hospitals and other public health facilities to transfer patients on an urgent basis to other facilities; (2) whether his department has put in place any measures to ensure that ambulances are easily accessible to hospitals without delay; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. It is not a policy requirement to allocate ambulances to hospitals. Ambulances are allocated to EMS stations which are either stand-alone or co-located in hospitals, clinics, and other public facilities. The allocation is organized according to what is practically achievable within the budget allocation. The focus is on ensuring that these ambulances are accessible and respond on time when they are needed. Nationally, of the 483 public EMS Stations, 365 (76%) of are co-located at hospitals and clinics. The breakdown of EMS Stations per province is as follows:
|
PROVINCE |
Total No. of Stations |
No. of Stations Stand Alone |
No. of Stations at Hospitals |
No. of Stations located at Clinics |
No. of Stations located at other sites |
|
Eastern Cape |
85 |
14 |
48 |
16 |
7 |
|
Free State |
59 |
2 |
26 |
27 |
4 |
|
Gauteng |
57 |
6 |
21 |
23 |
7 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
71 |
22 |
26 |
19 |
4 |
|
Limpopo |
57 |
10 |
26 |
18 |
3 |
|
Mpumalanga |
37 |
7 |
16 |
5 |
9 |
|
North West |
20 |
1 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
|
Northern Cape |
48 |
4 |
8 |
36 |
0 |
|
Western Cape |
49 |
12 |
25 |
9 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
483 |
78 |
206 |
159 |
40 |
|
PERCENTAGE |
100 |
16 |
43 |
33 |
8 |
|
Other sites: Fire Stations, Local Govt Offices, SAPS |
2. Access of ambulances to hospitals including emergency responses within the community are subject to demand and availability of ambulances at the time required. All calls, when received, are prioritized according to patient acuity needs, triaged and dispatched to the first available ambulance. This prioritization includes interfacility transfers.
END.