Tshwane ambulances halt as Covid surges
• More than 70 emergency vehicles out of action • Concern waiting times will endanger lives
The Gauteng government’s centralisation of the province’s emergency medical services (EMS) has grounded all of Tshwane’s more than 70 ambulances in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The provincial government denied the Tshwane EMS a licence to operate, leaving it in limbo — just as the impending surge of Covid-19 cases is increasing pressure on resources. Critics say the centralised calling process could lead to longer waiting times, which could endanger the lives of those injured in accidents, incidents of crime or medical emergencies.
Nearly 600 ambulances operate in the province, but 70 are now out of action. All health and emergency resources are crucial in dealing with the surge of Covid-19 in Gauteng’s most populous metros.
The provincial health department said in a statement on Wednesday that the Tshwane EMS had dealt with an average of 53 calls a day between June 2018 and June 2020, which was a “relatively very low number”. Ceasing its ambulance services, which the Tshwane EMS is adamant is only a temporary situation, is the result of a yearslong process to shift all EMS away from districts and metros to the province.
In all other provinces, EMS are a provincial function, but this was not the case in Gauteng, which subcontracted the function to municipalities. The province started the process in 2012 and finalised it on June 30, the Gauteng health department said in a recent statement.
Despite the shift to provincial function in 2018, Tshwane continued to render its EMS until July 6 as a supplementary service to residents. The decision also affects Tshwane EMS’s 300-strong operational staff, including paramedics.
Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo’s spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said the city’s EMS were fully operational as normal.
A circular sent to EMS personnel in Tshwane earlier this week, signed by the acting chief
of emergency services in the metro, said the services were stopped as a result of the province declining its application for an operating licence.
“Personnel [are] expected to report for duty at their assigned emergency services station pending further management directives and employees will be continuously updated as and when new developments dictate,” the circular said.
But during this period all emergency calls will be diverted to the provincial call centre.
Fire and rescue operations will continue.
Tshwane EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso said the city’s management took the decision to halt its ambulance services until the issue of its mandate was clarified with the province.
Bronwynn Engelbrecht, a DA councillor in Tshwane, said the decision meant that residents should now call the provincial office for emergency assistance.
A lengthy process would follow, where an ambulance would be routed from the provincial depot to the specific area in Tshwane to assist in the emergency, she said.
“This move is unacceptable as it could take hours and cost lives. When a tragedy such as a heart attack, a car accident or a stabbing incident strikes, emergency assistance is urgently needed as it can save lives,” Engelbrecht said.
The Gauteng department of health said it was confident the decision to fully provincialise the EMS service would “allow us to render services unhindered” by municipal borders.
“Every application received under emergency medical regulations is assessed on its own merits to ensure compliance in line with stipulated criteria. Every application is tested and the applicant is given written feedback on the outcome of their application.
“The department of health is not in a position to communicate publicly the contents of the application unless the applicant does so.”