Since the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic slipped into our shores, medics had to be at the forefront of this battle to reduce infections and deaths.
West Rand’s emerging private emergency service, QRS has been among the busy medical response services since lockdown.
The new company director, Lehlohonolo Mpeko chatted about the challenges of operating in such strenuous times.
“We know how hectic it becomes for frontline workers daily. We face a lot of challenges – from sick children to sick elderly citizens, and sometimes losing some of our patients,” Mpeko reflected, adding that the frequent calls leave his personnel extremely exhausted.
“All of these challenges are really energy-draining, but we have recognised the importance of what we do. Usually, no one calls us when they are happy or having a good time; it is always when one is facing a medical emergency and we have to be on our feet to provide the needed medical support,” he explained.
With infections increasing daily, accompanied by this complicated variant, the Helderkruin-based company has had to ensure that its personnel act with caution on scenes. “We are exposed to the virus daily, and we too may be infected, but as QRS we are mindful of our responsibilities. We have had to invest a lot in buying personal protective equipment (PPE). We had to learn new ways of doing things around our patients – from the types of questions we ask, cleaning our ambulance vigorously with approved sanitizers, to monitoring our employees’ well-being constantly,” he explained.
Lastly, Mpeko also announced the expansion of his operation to Welkom (Free State), Durban (KZN) and Pretoria (GP).
