Paramedics held hostage at King Edward

TWO paramedics have reacted angrily after being held against their will by King Edward V Hospital security this morning while trying to admit injured patients.

According to Rescue Care operations director, Garrith Jamieson, what was meant to be a normal procedure of transporting injured patients from a car accident to the hospital, turned into “a nightmare for the two paramedics as the security guards refused to let them leave the hospital grounds after locking the gates and questioning them.”

“Our paramedics had brought two injured patients from a collision on the M7 to King Edward V Hospital as this was the drainage area for the patients. On arrival, paramedics found the trauma unit totally empty with no patients inside,” he said.

Paramedic, Rowan Scandroglio said when he arrived at the hospital at nearly 7am nurses wanted to know from him why he hadn’t phoned ahead. He said they then walked off as if they were not interested. “They were all lined around the trauma unit which was empty and ignored us for about 10 to 15 minutes. I took out my phone to take a picture of all the empty beds and the nurses against the wall, and then suddenly they took notice. They got angry and shouted that we couldn’t take pictures and screamed for security,” said the angry paramedic.

Jamieson said he was aware of the problems with regard to handing over patients to the hospital and was going to use the photos taken by the paramedic to lay a formal complaint with the Department of Health against the staff.

Scandroglio said when the matron/ nursing manager arrived, she demanded that he delete his photographs. He said this all took place while his colleague was still waiting with the patients, one of whom was in a wheelchair. “The only time they took an interest in the patients was after the matron or manager was called. Security kept insisting they wanted to check that I had deleted the pictures,” he said.

He said the nurses complained that they did not want to help as the paramedics had not called the hospital to alert them they were bringing patients in. “I explained that the patients were in a stable condition and not critical so it did not warrant giving them a courtesy call.” he said, adding that the nursing staff had turned around and said what would have happened if they had been busy. “We also tried explaining that this is a hospital and should be ready for any emergency at anytime as advertised by their board outside which states it has 24 Hour Emergency.”

When the hospital’s security personnel, KZN Security Services arrived an argument ensued between them and the paramedics in full view of the public. “They instructed security to secure the gates and tried to force the two paramedics to proceed to the security office. “We refused and starting packing up our equipment into the ambulance while we waited for our management to arrive,” he said.

Jamieson said when he arrived at the hospital he asked the security if they were aware that they were holding an ambulance hostage. “I was told that I could call “the army, police or newspapers” he didn’t care,” he said.

“I had to call the SAPS to assist in resolving the situation. Once the police arrived, the security guards opened the gate and allowed the ambulance to leave. This entire episode took just under two hours and whilst these security guards were arguing and holding paramedics against their will, emergency calls could not be serviced,” said Jamieson.

The other paramedic on scene, Womenshan Subramoney said he experienced a similar problem with a delayed handover last week. “The nurse last week was talking and laughing on the phone while I had a patient in front of her, yet she didn’t even look up. I waited about five minutes before she gave me any attention. It seems handing over patients to nurses is becoming an increasingly long procedure when all that is required is a signature. They don’t even greet the patients or us but first want to know whether we phoned ahead,” he said. The paramedics said the situation was worrying as it affeced the “golden hour”, the one hour following a traumatic injury being sustained in a medical emergency, during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death.

“We do not condone this type of behaviour. but this has become a common problem at King Edward Hospital. The hospital is only informed beforehand if the patient is critically injured or there are multiple people injured. Stable patients are transported to the area facility closest to the scene as per the drainage area issued by the Department of Health. This issue should have been raised with hospital management and they should deal with this issue with Rescue Care management. We find the behaviour of the security staff concerning and we, as management of Rescue Care, will be seeking advice to take this matter further,” said Jamieson.

Berea Mail is awaiting a response from the Department of Health.