Paramedics use bakkies to transport patients
Only one ambulance was operational out of 13 that were supposed to be available
Ladysmith and Estcourt KZN Emergency Services are forced to use accident response bakkies to transport sick patients to hospital. The IFP spokesperson on Health, Mrs Ncamisle Nkwanyana MPL, expressed outrage on Friday at the state of ambulances in the Ladysmith area.
Only one ambulance was operational out of 13 that were supposed to be available. Blame has been placed at the door of the company contracted to repair state ambulances, Transit Solutions.
As the department is forced to use emergency rescue vehicles to do simple patient transfers, questions have been raised on how the Department of Health could allow the situation to get so bad.
While the situation affects the entire province, the state of Estcourt’s and Ladysmith’s emergency services is particularly concerning.
