Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services personnel are considering for ambulance police escort after recently being attacked in Dobsonville, Soweto.
Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said they were attacked when attending emergencies, ambulance crew was attacked.
“We would engage police on these challenges following a robbery of ambulance crew in Dobsonville in the early hours of yesterday, Thursday. When this incident takes place, patients’ emergency services are delayed, as the matter of robbery has to be attended. Then public will suffer. Thus, we are considering working with police for escorts, when going out for call-outs”, he said.
Mulaudzi said paramedics are at risk as they get attacked in the communities when being called to rescue lives of people. He added that the incident was the second in less than two weeks.
“Paramedics are not safe though they have to go and rescue lives of people.
Police spokesperson Mzwakhe Xazi has not yet responded to our demand, though he promised to do so”, he said.
Department of Health MEC Nomagugu Simelani Zulu said they are disappointed in these incidents of EMS robbery.
South African Emergency Personnel’s Union spokesperson Mpho Mpogeng said they will stand on their word that personnel should arm themselves. He added that the department should also implement plans of eradicating the attacks.
“Clinics must also start opening on 24-hour basis so that paramedics may stop going door to door and fetch patients. Most of the attacks occur at night and early hours and that’s the reason we want our members to start working six to six, therefore to be safe”, he added.
