Question NW2540 to the Minister of Health

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11 September 2017 - NW2540

Profile picture: Steenkamp, Ms J

Steenkamp, Ms J to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What number of ambulances that are operated by the (i) province and (ii) Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality are operating within the boundaries of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality; (2) (a) what is the maximum number of people one ambulance is supposed to service and (b) how many people live within the boundaries of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality; (3) with regard to the standards of compliance, what (a) is the (i) minimum number of people that are supposed to be operating an ambulance at any given time and (ii) basic equipment that is supposed to be on an ambulance at all times and (b) are the other relevant details of any other standard of compliance?

Reply:

(1) EMS in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is provided at provincial level by Gauteng Emergency Medical Services as well as at local government level by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

(i) An average of 25 of a total pool of 45 ambulances owned and managed by Gauteng Department of Health Provincial EMS are operational per shift for specific functions within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

(ii) An average of 63 of a pool of 167 ambulances are operational per shift within the boundaries of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality - 83 of the 167 ambulances are owned by Gauteng Department of Health Provincial EMS and 84 of the 167 are owned by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. The day-to-day operations of these vehicles are managed by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

The total combined fleet available for operations within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is 212.

(2) (a) The national normative ratio (which is used as a guide) is one ambulance per 10 000 people (1:10 000);

(b) The number of people in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is estimated at 3 178 470 as per StatsSA June 2016

(3) (a) (i) The minimum number of registered EMS personnel to work on an ambulance is two (2);

(ii) The basic equipment that is supposed to be on an ambulance at all times is as per Annexure A;

(b) In terms of the Health Professions Act of 1974 all personnel are required to practice within their respective scopes of practice as per their registration categories. All personnel must hold a valid Professional Driving Permit (PDP) and all ambulances are required to be registered as such in terms of the National Road Traffic Act. Furthermore, all Emergency Medical Service providers will be required to comply with the Emergency Medical Services Regulations when promulgated by the Minister of Health. The EMS Regulations prescribe the application and accreditation processes, as well as the minimum standard of staffing and equipments for all categories of pre-hospital vehicles in South Africa in both public and privates services.

END.