Eastern Cape Health has called for police to prioritise the investigation of crimes committed against ambulance crews, which increasingly involves fake calls and ambushes, writes MedicalBrief.
The Times reports that this comes after medical personnel transporting an asthmatic patient in Nelson Mandela Bay were attacked and robbed in the early hours of Monday. The incident in Joe Slovo, Port Elizabeth, left the ambulance crew injured as well as traumatised. They had to be taken to the Dora Nginza Hospital for treatment.
Kupelo urged community members to protect EMS crews, who work under difficult conditions to save lives. “Communities should always make sure that ambulance crews are protected when they are in their communities. When the thugs create 'no-go zones' for ambulances, that will hurt the people that desperately need medical attention – and at times might result in death,” he said.
Kupelo said in the report that a similar modus operandi was used at the same spot in recent weeks, where shots were fired at a private ambulance service when making a U-turn in an attempt to drive away.
The police were called and are investigating the attack.
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-09-16-pure-thuggery-health-department-demands-action-after-medics-attacked/"]The Times report[/link]