The DA’s Jack Bloom raised concern over the number of ambulances involved in accidents the past four years in the province.
He aired this in his parliamentary question to Gauteng MEC for health Qedani Mahlangu who revealed that 98 ambulances were involved in accidents in 2011 and that an additional number of 80 ambulances were involved in accidents in 2012.
The breakdown further indicated that in 2013, 97 ambulances were involved in accidents and that 11 ambulances were involved in an accident for the first half of this year.
This amounts to 286 ambulances which have been involved in accidents in totality.
According to Bloom, all these have led to 95 disciplinary actions against negligent drivers which seems to have led to a large decrease in the ambulance accidents this year.
“Advanced driving training is essential to ensure that ambulances avoid accidents and are available to pick up emergency patients,” says Bloom.
Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that Randfontein has had its fair share of problems where ambulances are concerned.
Initially, the herald reported that there was a massive shortage of ambulances in Randfontein which led to paramedics late arrival at accident emergency scenes.
At the time, the West Rand District Municipality spokesperson Dennis Mangope said that the they were aware of the shortage and that they would look into the problem.
