An Eastern Cape health employee is in hot water after he allegedly used an ambulance to pick up passengers when he was sent to fetch a patient in Elliotdale last week.
The driver collected the patient and on the way to Mthatha picked up hitchhikers. The patient took photographs of the man receiving money from the passengers and posted them on Facebook.
Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department had already identified the driver and that “due processes are being followed against ”.
The department identified the official using its new tracking system which records the identity of the ambulance driver, the registration number and the speed of the ambulance.
“We want to urge members of the public never to pay fares in ambulances – they are for free and they are meant for emergency services.
“Part of the investigation will be using our new tracking system to prove whether he stopped at certain places as said by the patient.”
Kupelo said the department had also received another complaint from a patient’s family that an ambulance driver had demanded R100 before loading a patient. The incident allegedly took place in Ngqeleni.
“Although we do not have evidence of such, we have, however, noted it. There seems to be a new trend where some officials are demanding payment from patients,” said Kupelo.
Ambulance abuse has been rampant in the Eastern Cape in recent years. In 2012 an investigation found cases where ambulances were used by emergency services employees to travel to places as far as KwaZulu-Natal while they were supposed to be on duty in the Eastern Cape.
The investigation also uncovered fuel card abuse by drivers and petrol attendants where fuel was put into other vehicles instead of ambulances.
Two years ago, an ambulance was dispatched to Mqanduli but hours later the patient complained that the ambulance had not arrived. The ambulance was later found in Norwood, outside the driver’s girlfriend’s house.
A month ago a pregnant teenager fell out of an ambulance while being taken to hospital at night. The driver and another emergency services official only discovered she had fallen out when they arrived at the hospital.
The teen was assisted by a passer-by. She gave birth to a still-born baby.
“We have spent millions of rands on lawsuits because of incidents that occur due to the late arrival of ambulances. The tracking system will save us millions, as we will be able to hold people accountable. We are going to take decisive action against ambulance abuse,” said Kupelo.
lIn an unrelated incident, an ambulance was hijacked in Engcobo during the festive season but was later found abandoned, as the tracking system allowed the vehicle to be tracked.
Anyone wanting to lodge a complaint regarding ambulance service can phone 0800-03-23-64. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Ambulance picked up paying hitchhikers
The driver collected the patient and on the way to Mthatha picked up hitchhikers. The patient took photographs of the man receiving money from the passengers and posted them on Facebook.
Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department had already identified the driver and that “due processes are being followed against ”.
The department identified the official using its new tracking system which records the identity of the ambulance driver, the registration number and the speed of the ambulance.
“We want to urge members of the public never to pay fares in ambulances – they are for free and they are meant for emergency services.
“Part of the investigation will be using our new tracking system to prove whether he stopped at certain places as said by the patient.”
Kupelo said the department had also received another complaint from a patient’s family that an ambulance driver had demanded R100 before loading a patient. The incident allegedly took place in Ngqeleni.
“Although we do not have evidence of such, we have, however, noted it. There seems to be a new trend where some officials are demanding payment from patients,” said Kupelo.
Ambulance abuse has been rampant in the Eastern Cape in recent years. In 2012 an investigation found cases where ambulances were used by emergency services employees to travel to places as far as KwaZulu-Natal while they were supposed to be on duty in the Eastern Cape.
The investigation also uncovered fuel card abuse by drivers and petrol attendants where fuel was put into other vehicles instead of ambulances.
Two years ago, an ambulance was dispatched to Mqanduli but hours later the patient complained that the ambulance had not arrived. The ambulance was later found in Norwood, outside the driver’s girlfriend’s house.
A month ago a pregnant teenager fell out of an ambulance while being taken to hospital at night. The driver and another emergency services official only discovered she had fallen out when they arrived at the hospital.
The teen was assisted by a passer-by. She gave birth to a still-born baby.
“We have spent millions of rands on lawsuits because of incidents that occur due to the late arrival of ambulances. The tracking system will save us millions, as we will be able to hold people accountable. We are going to take decisive action against ambulance abuse,” said Kupelo.
lIn an unrelated incident, an ambulance was hijacked in Engcobo during the festive season but was later found abandoned, as the tracking system allowed the vehicle to be tracked.
Anyone wanting to lodge a complaint regarding ambulance service can phone 0800-03-23-64. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos