PATIENTS in need of emergency medical services have been left to suffer as Ekurhuleni ambulances have no medical supplies.
According to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, there is a shortage of basic medical equipment in metro ambulances, which he discovered when he visited the Palmridge fire station in Alberton on January 13.
Bloom found there was a shortage of equipment such as bandages, oxygen masks, gauze, linen savers, syringes, intravenous needles, space blankets, alcohol swabs and nebulisers.
“The store room is short of other items as well, with lots of empty shelves,” Bloom said.
This has apparently been going on “for about a year and these shortages affect ambulances all over Ekurhuleni and in other parts of Gauteng as well, he said.
A medic from Ekurhuleni ambulances, who asked to remain anonymous, said they had even been forced to use the supplies available sparingly, exchange with other regions in Ekurhuleni and even use some of their own personal equipment.
“We have not received new equipment for the last few months now, and when we do, it’s a matter of a box of gloves or two sporadically, and not the full order that has been placed. Once we were given gloves used for hairdressing and not for medical purposes,” the medic said.
The quality of the gloves is also poor, forcing them to use two gloves at a time, because if they don’t, the gloves could tear easily; putting both patient and medic at risk of infection.
“We also exchange equipment with other regions. For example, if we need drips which they have, and they need syringes which we still have in stock, we will swop.”
Medical professionals even had to resort to using alternative, non-medical objects to improvise and replace materials they don’t have.
“We’ve had several incidents where we didn’t have splints to treat patients with broken arms or legs, and had to use cardboard boxes from the streets in place of the splints. The situation is now so bad that we can’t even do our jobs properly, therefore the community can’t be served efficiently.”
According to the Bloom, the problem with the shortage of supplies may be due to the department of health not paying suppliers.
“Medical consumables are ordered from the Gauteng Health Department but supplies have been erratic and grossly inadequate for about a year,” Bloom said.
“It appears that the problem is due to the non-payment of suppliers. I have alerted Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, about this unacceptable situation that endangers the lives of patients.
“I hope she takes quick action to ensure adequate supplies for all emergency ambulances in Gauteng,” Bloom concluded.
