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Paramedics suspended for refusing to carry patient up stairs

Two KwaZulu-Natal paramedics have been suspended after apparently refusing to walk down a stairway to reach a patient in Umlazi, ordering family to bring her to them, and then leaving because they were taking too long.

The provincial Health Department, which was “deeply concerned” by the allegations, said the pair had been placed under immediate precautionary suspension to allow an investigation to proceed without hindrance.

They allegedly told the patient’s family that “it’s not our job to walk down the stairs”, and demanded she be brought up by her relatives instead.

“While neighbours were trying to carry her up the stairway, the paramedics allegedly accused them of being ‘too slow’ and ‘wasting our time’ and drove off.”

The patient is now in hospital after she was transported to a clinic via an e-hailing taxi and then transferred to hospital by ambulance, reports TimesLIVE.

 

TimesLIVE article – 'It's not our job to walk down stairs': Two KZN paramedics suspended for 'leaving' Umlazi patient (Open access)

 

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