Ambulances in KwaZulu-Natal were utilised for buying window frames, a grass cutter while one was parked outside a shebeen for hours.
In a report to the KZN Legislature Health Portfolio Committee on Tuesday, the KZN Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stated that they had insufficient emergency vehicles to meet the demand due to budget constraints.
The committee discussed various reports with the KZN Department of Health (DOH) relating to issues of fraud, risk plans, EMS, patient cases and other health related matters that are critical for seamless service delivery in the province.
The report stated that the implementation of fleet management interventions resulted in improved vehicle maintenance turnaround time, which positively influenced response times in the Amajuba, eThekwini, ILembe and Ugu districts.
However, other districts experienced challenges with a current fleet management contract resulting in delays and extended downtime of emergency vehicles. The DOH stated that the vehicle management service provider was requested to increase the pool of service providers and increase supervision of fleet matters.
The EMS has provision to procure a total of 42 new ambulances, 8 new priority patient transport service (PPTS) vehicles and 2 rapid response vehicles, which have been ordered, said the department.
Portfolio Committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka said that on oversight visits they found that service providers were taking too long to repair EMS vehicles.
At the meeting, Keeka told MEC Nomagugu Simelane that he had observed the movement of an ambulance at a shopping mall in Westville. He added that the EMS staff member was shopping and also loading a grass cutter into the ambulance.
“I have sent my complaint in for investigation to the department. They were supposed to be serving the citizens instead they were spending time with the vehicle shopping. We want that person driving the vehicle to be taken to task,” Keeka said.
Simelane said the department had dealt with two similar complaints in late December.
“Someone had observed an ambulance parked next to a shebeen for four hours. The person gave the department pictures and the time. We were able to get the ambulance registration and then found out who was driving it at that time. We have dealt with the matter,” she said.
Simelane added that they were also alerted to an ambulance ferrying building material from the Durban CBD. A member of the public sent a video of the EMS staff loading windows into the ambulance.
“When we investigated, this ambulance which was buying building material in Durban was from the Ugu district. The people in Ugu are waiting for an ambulance but we cannot service them. That ambulance is not in the vicinity of where it was servicing,” Simelane said.
Keeka said the transgressors must have a disciplinary record against them.
Shontel de Boer, MPL and DA KZN Spokesperson on Social Development said the fleet matters are not only affecting the EMS, but the health facilities management as well.
“When we did oversight there were some EMS officials who spoke of their challenges. Fleet management should give us regular updates on vehicles that are not operational or in for maintenance or service so that we can keep an eye on fleet management,” she said.
Keeka said a health portfolio committee presentation on traditional medicine was also tabled on Tuesday.
“We had received a request from a group of traditional healers who wanted to meet with the portfolio committee. Before we discuss it, we should know what the relationship between the department and traditional healers is in a formal space. We have asked the department to furnish the committee with information on the existing relationship between the two, and whether there is funding for this sector,” Keeka said.