The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services has procured and converted a new fleet of buses and rescue vehicles. These vehicles were released on 21 November 2013 by the KZN Health MEC Dr Dhlomo.
The twelve buses will be used for patient transport services where transport is provided for clients with non-emergency referrals between Hospitals and from Primary Health Clinics to Community Health Centres and Hospitals. This transport service makes health services more accessible to the community and decreases the work load on the emergency ambulances.
Five of the buses have had extensive alterations and several stretchers can be carried in them. A specialised ramp has been fitted to the rear of the buses to lift the stretchers into the bus. These buses can also be used in disaster situations where large numbers of patients need to be transported.
Health information is placed on the side of the buses, which will change from time to time. The current information is about maternal health. The fifteen 4x4 rescue vehicles have been converted to carry specialised equipment, including the “jaws of life” and emergency lighting which is required to perform medical rescues. The weight and bulk of this equipment was taken into consideration when converting these vehicles.
These vehicles are not designed to transport patients but have medical equipment on board and are staffed by medical personal that have a medical and rescue qualification. These vehicles are of particular value in the rural areas of KZN where rescue response times will now be decreased with the addition of these new rescue vehicles.
The buses and rescue vehicles will be of great value to both the KZN EMS fleet and clients with some of the units already being used the night of the launch.
