Jeria Ambulance Services have to close shop

A group of concerned residents gathered at the Standerton Country Club on Thursday, June 30 at 10:00 to discuss the future of Jeria Ambulance Services.

Jeria Ambulance Services has been based in Standerton for a number of years, providing an essential service to the community as a whole.

They are in need of assistance and have to close down due to various reasons.

Their focus was not only on trauma incidents, but they also intervened in daily living situations, as well as giving advice to any community member on first-aid and any medical emergency.

Their vehicle could be seen at emergency situations such as road accidents, robberies, shootings, drownings and injuries at homes.

Chronically ill patients were also assisted and a support service delivered to businesses, schools, farms, the retirement village, churches and households.

According to information, there are only three provincial ambulances in town, which is way less than what is prescribed by the Department of Health.

Provincial ambulances do not deliver a service to private hospitals and medical centres.

Standerton is faced without a functional private ambulance service for the broader Standerton and surrounding communities.

South African ambulance services have to adhere to strict regulations.

According to a statement from Jeria Ambulance Services, it is not only expensive to meet the minimum staff and equipment requirements, but it is also challenging to recruit and keep these scarce-skills individuals, who work shifts to provide a 24-hour service.

A minimum of six paramedics need to be employed.

The statement concluded by saying that if they are forced to close down and let their practice certification lapse, it will affect each and everyone in Standerton.

The closest private ambulance service is currently in Secunda, a 45 minutes drive away, if immediately available.

A call was made to the community to stand together to explore potential solutions.

A trustworthy source said on Friday, July 1 that a 100% private initiative for Standerton is viable.

Hillel Coetzer from Northern Light Foundation expressed his regret on the turn of events the same day.

“I can only hope that a solution will be found as soon possible,” Coetzer said.

Susan Mocke from Jeria said that all possibilities are considered at the moment.

She added regretfully that she did not know wat else to say.