Question NW1335 to the Minister of Health
19 May 2023 - NW1335
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What is the (a) total number of ambulances in each province, (b) short fall and (c) number available for a buffer; number available for a buffer; (2) what total number of ambulances are currently not in use in each province due to being involved in (a) accidents and (b)(i) repairs and (ii) maintenance; (3) what is the average waiting time for ambulances to transport patients in each province; (4) what is the ambulance to population ratio (a) nationally and (b) in each province?
Reply:
1. Table 1 below indicates (a) total number of ambulances in each province based on the ratio of 1 ambulance per 10 000 people, (b) short fall and (c) number available for a buffer is as follows:
Table 1:
|
Province |
(a) Total of No. ambulances |
(b) Short fall |
(c) Buffer |
|
Eastern Cape |
448 |
222 |
30 |
|
Free State |
138 |
152 |
42 |
|
Gauteng |
1 600 |
942 |
60 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
432 |
742 |
0 |
|
Limpopo |
262 |
348 |
0 |
|
Mpumalanga |
168 |
230 |
70 |
|
Northwest |
72 |
298 |
0 |
|
Northern Cape |
110 |
40 |
0 |
|
Western Cape |
120 |
460 |
0 |
2.The number of ambulances not in use, those due to accidents and those due repairs and maintenance per province as at week starting 24 April 2023 are as per table below. These numbers fluctuate daily.
|
Province |
(a) No. not in use due to accidents |
(b)(i) No. not in use due to repairs |
(b)(ii) No. not in use due to maintenance |
|
Eastern Cape |
15 |
136 |
52 |
|
Free State |
9 |
43 |
38 |
|
Gauteng |
12 |
64 |
89 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
15 |
10 |
25 |
|
Limpopo |
15 |
102 |
31 |
|
Mpumalanga |
12 |
25 |
24 |
|
Northwest |
8 |
57 |
42 |
|
Northern Cape |
5 |
35 |
61 |
|
Western Cape |
24 |
13 |
22 |
3. The average waiting time for ambulances to transport patients in each province assuming an immediate scene turnaround time is as follows:
|
PROVINCE |
AVERAGE WAITING TIME |
|
|
URBAN < 30 MINUTES |
RURAL < 60 MINUTES |
|
|
Eastern Cape |
41% |
69% |
|
Free State |
47% |
81% |
|
Gauteng |
55% |
85% |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
43% |
52% |
|
Limpopo |
49% |
39% |
|
Mpumalanga |
65% |
69% |
|
North West |
81% |
73% |
|
Northern Cape |
78% |
74% |
|
Western Cape |
53% |
77% |
|
National Average |
56% |
67% |
(4) The ratio is currently being used (a) nationally and (b) in all provinces is 1 ambulance per 10 000 people.
END.