Question NW3518 to the Minister of Health
29 November 2017 - NW3518
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to his reply to question 2540 on 22 September 2017, what would be the total cost to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in respect of adhering to the national normative ratio of one ambulance to 10 000 people; (2) (a) what should the ideal number of ambulances be in each shift in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and (b) what is the number of existing shifts and ambulances that are allocated to each shift; (3) are any of the ambulances in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality not in working order; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether the 212 ambulances operating within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality have all the basic equipment needed at all times; if not, (a) what basic equipment needed at all times is missing from each ambulance, (b) what is the projected cost to repair and provide all ambulances with all the basic equipment needed at all times; (5) (a) whether the 45 ambulances are owned and managed by the Gauteng Department of Health Provincial EMS operational (b) what are the specific functions of these ambulances and (c) do they form part of the national normative ratio of one ambulance per 10 000 people?
Reply:
1. The approximate cost to Ekurhuleni Metropolitan in respect of one ambulance to 10 000 people is R668,091,000.00;
(2) (a) The ideal number of operational ambulances in Ekurhuleni should be 96 per shift.
(b) There are four existing shifts which are rostered on a 12 hour basis with 63 operational ambulances allocated per shift.
3. Yes, 28 ambulances are at workshops.
4. All 212 operational ambulances are equipped with the basic ambulance equipment.
(a) There is no basic ambulance equipment missing when the ambulance is operational.
(b) None. See (a) above.
5. (a) Yes.
(b) These ambulances respond to all ill or injured patients as well as undertake inter-facility transfers. They also transport chronically ill patients to specialist health facilities for appointments and treatment.
(c) Yes.
END.