‘EMS compromised by power struggle’

POLOKWANE – “Service delivery by emergency medical services (EMS) in Limpopo is seemingly compromised as a result of power struggles on management level.”

An EMS employee who spoke to Review on condition of anonymity recently made this statement.

The source said the EMS office was clearly divided.

“Managers have personal issues with each other. This is definitely affective service delivery to the public.

One disturbing claim made by Review’s source was that one of the ambulances operated without oxygen supply for four days – including a busy weekend – because the person who needed to authorise the oxygen supply was on leave.

Other complaints raised included:

• There is equipment worth R10 million in the storeroom not being used because it needed some form of maintenance.

• There are fewer than six qualified EMS paramedics in Limpopo.

• The personnel received uniforms some four years ago, and now some workers wear casual clothes as they do not have uniforms. They also do not have protective clothing like safety boots.

• There are no gloves available.

• There are only two ambulances in Polokwane, one in Moletjie, two in Mankweng and one in Mashashane.

It was alleged that the reason for this was that the ambulances were broken, and there was no money to repair them.

The result of this was that patients had to wait very long before an ambulance came to assist them.

• Personnel sign in, leave the office and only report back in the afternoon to sign out, because nobody controls who is at work and who is not.

Health spokesperson, Macks Lesufi, denied that a power struggle on EMS management level existed.

“There is no power struggle affecting service delivery. If any employee who has authority goes on leave, he or she will always leave somebody acting on his or her behalf, with full authority.”

He added that personnel received uniforms almost every year, with the most recent allocation in the 2013/14 financial year.

“It may not have been a complete uniform in terms of shirts, socks, shoes and reflective jackets, but in this financial year there are funds set aside for full uniforms and protective clothing,” he said.

According to Lesufi, the workers could not complain about a lack of gloves, because they ordered these directly from the district pharmacies in bulk, or from the hospital pharmacy for minor replenishing.

“The delay in releasing ambulances from the merchants, or mechanics was caused by the transition from one service provider to another.

“Previously vehicle repairs were done by a specific service provider and now there is a national contract on maintenance of ambulance services,” Lesufi explained.

Asked about the alleged R10 million worth of equipment in the storeroom, he said equipment for EMS is procured on national tender.

“Previously there was no maintenance contract with this tender.

“National treasury is now contracting suppliers, with whom there will also be a maintenance contract for equipment.

“The equipment in the storeroom is being evaluated for disposal because they are uneconomical to repair.

“The value of this equipment is not R10 million; that is simply an exaggeration”.

According to Lesufi there are 25 EMS paramedics in the province, and not less than six as alleged.

“The province has 25 paramedics, including college and management.

“We experience a very high staff turnover rate in terms of paramedics moving to private companies because of a better salary offers,” Lesufi said.