KZN: Paramedics suspended after abandoning distressed patient
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has suspended two paramedics who allegedly abandoned a patient in Umlazi and accused neighbours who were carrying her of being too slow. The incident which has been widely criticised happened on Sunday night, 25 June. PARAMEDICS ABANDON PATIENT IN UMLAZI AT NIGHT KZN Health spokesperson Agiza Holngwane said two paramedics […]
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has suspended two paramedics who allegedly abandoned a patient in Umlazi and accused neighbours who were carrying her of being too slow.
The incident which has been widely criticised happened on Sunday night, 25 June.
PARAMEDICS ABANDON PATIENT IN UMLAZI AT NIGHT
KZN Health spokesperson Agiza Holngwane said two paramedics implicated in the matter have been placed under immediate precautionary suspension to allow an investigation to proceed without hindrance.
It is alleged that, after responding to a distress call, the paramedics refused to alight from an ambulance and walk down a stairway to reach the patient.
They allegedly said it is not their job to walk down the stairs and demanded that the patient be brought up by her relatives instead.
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While neighbours were trying to carry the patient up the stairway, the paramedics allegedly accused them of being too slow and wasting their time, and left the scene.
The highly distressed patient was eventually transported to a nearby clinic with an e-hailing taxi service; and then subsequently transferred to hospital by another Emergency Medical Services ambulance.
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KZN HEALTH ‘DEEPLY DISTURBED’
Hlongwane said the Health Department is deeply disturbed by these allegations, as such actions are acutely opposed to emergency care providers’ main objectives.
“These include conserving life; alleviation of suffering; promoting health; doing no harm; and encouraging the quality and equal availability of emergency medical care services.
“The Department would also like to acknowledge and appreciate the actions of those who tagged its executive and senior officials on Facebook, to draw their attention to the matter,” he said.
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