North West Legislature calls on MEC Madoda Sambatha to Intervene and bring back AEDs/ defibrillators in clinics

North West Legislature Health Committee Calls on MEC Sambatha to intervene and bring back AEDs / defibrillators  in clinics in the Province  

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development is astounded by the decision of the Health department Administrator, Ms Jeanette Hunter’s decision to remove AEDs /Defibrillators from certain clinics in the province and calls on MEC for Health, Hon. Madoda Sambatha to reverse the decision. 

The Committee, led by the Chairperson, Hon. Gavin Edwards discovered this during the Oversight Week programme that the Legislature was embarking on in the Dr Ruth Segomotso Mompati district from the 02-03 August 2022. The committee was informed that AEDs /Defibrillators had been removed from the emergency trolleys in certain clinics. According to a written communication dated 21 March 2021, signed by Ms Hunter, 57 clinics were listed which should not have AEDs due to the proximity of the clinics to hospitals.

“Patients in need of emergency medical care in our clinics should not have to rely on being transported to the nearest hospital, before receiving treatment. Essentially this means they are being deprived of life saving treatment in a medical facility. 
“The removal of the life saving devices will have a devastating impact on patients who either arrive at the clinic with a cardiac dysrhythmia, or who develop ventricular fibrillation in the clinic,” said Hon. Edwards.

He also said there is no scientific evidence to support the decision to remove the AEDs /Defibrillators instead, the removal poses an increased risks on the department with a potential of loss of life. 
“Ventricular fibrillation (sometimes called v-fib for short) is an arrhythmia, a malfunction of the heart’s normal pumping sequence. It is caused by heart disease, heart attacks, chest pain, heart surgery, severe reactions to medications, electrolyte imbalances, electrical shock and trauma, and is the most common deadly arrhythmia. 
“The American Heart association has identified a comprehensive list of medications that may cause cardiac arrhythmias, many of which are administered within clinics. It’s is therefore reckless to remove the only device in a clinic that may well be needed to correct the possible side effect of such medications,” said Hon. Edwards.

The Portfolio Committee resolved to call on the Health MEC, Hon. Madoda Sambatha to instruct Ms Hunter, to immediately withdraw the communication and return AEDs : defibrillators back to the clinics. 
“Without any scientific evidence supporting the decision to remove the devices combined with a haphazard “near to hospital” approach, The Portfolio Committee expects that the MEC Sambatha will realise the error made by the Administrator and will immediately intervene. A short time from collapse to first defibrillation is associated with good neurological recovery among patients with ventricular fibrillation,” said Hon. Edwards. 

Portfolio Committee members also indicated that they have been receiving numerous complaints from community members about the response times of ambulances in the province. “Patients in a health care facility cannot be expected to wait for an Ambulance, in the hopes that one will respond fast enough to transfer them before they receive treatment,”said Hon. Edwards.

Members of the Media who would like to interview the Chairperson can contact Ms. Namhla Luhabe on 079 527 0628.

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