‘All society must protect EMS staff’

Fedusa fears paralysis of service and injustice to those it serves

PROTECTING Emergency Medical Services personnel from opportunistic criminals must be dealt with by all society, according to the national Health Department. Joe Maila, spokesperson for Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, said attacks on EMS personnel, which have been on the rise, are an attack on the whole country.

This after the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) said it wrote to Motsoaledi asking him to urgently intervene in what they called a “severe safety crisis” facing paramedic staff in the Western Cape.

Maila said they had not yet received the letter, but said the government cannot act alone in protecting medical personnel.

Fedusa’s concerns come after many reports of attacks on ambulance teams that the union said “escalated during 2016 and escalated over the festive season in the region”.

“It is scandalous that more than 100 cases have been documented last year alone,” Fedusa president Godfrey Selematsela said. “Fedusa blatantly and unreservedly objects to the consequent process that now subjects members to disciplinary action, when they choose to stand down and not face the onslaught of putting their lives in danger by responding to these calls.

“Moreover, more than 50 employees are receiving post-traumatic stress treatment

after being attacked.”

Insult was added to injury, he said, as staff were expected to pay for the treatment out of their own pockets.

“This is simply unacceptable and Fedusa would lobby and urge all stakeholders to consider a review of the legislation that is supposed to protect these vulnerable personnel.”

Selematsela said the staggered pace of action is only frustrating the process and could ultimately lead to a “paralysis of the service and an injustice to the communities it is intended to service”.

In its letter, Fedusa appealed to Motsoaledi to intervene and provide a national mandate to address this challenge.

“More can be done from the side of the government to address the safety issues faced by these dedicated workers fulfilling this crucial role.”

Provincial Ambulance Chief Pumzile Papu said they had noted an increase in the number of attacks and believed that EMS staff are seen as soft targets.

“They target us because we are soft targets, because they know we don’t carry firearms and they know we won’t fight back. In fact, it has saved our lives because if we carried firearms they would fight us and shoot at us.”

Papu said the incidents left staff scared to go into many areas and some would only respond to calls if accompanied by a police escort.

“We rely on police intelligence to tell us if a place is not safe then we will not go there. We have noted an increase in absenteeism, because everyone is afraid.

“Although we have been assaulted and attacked, we are glad no one has been killed.

“The problem we have is that these attacks happen in areas where we are needed the most.”

In September last year, about 1 000 EMS crew and residents gathered at the Brown’s Farm sports field as part of an anti-crime campaign, in response to more than 60 paramedics being attacked while on duty.

Incidents have been recorded in Philippi, Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Atlantis. – yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za