ActionSA requests investigation into 10-hour ambulance waiting time in Eerste Rivier

11 July 2023

ActionSA in the Western Cape has written to Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Minister of Health & Wellness, requesting her to investigate the response times of ambulances, waiting periods for patient transport and waiting times for patients to be attended to by hospital staff at Eerste Rivier Hospital.

It was reported to ActionSA that an ambulance that was called to take an elderly woman, who was bleeding profusely, to Eerste Rivier Hospital on Monday 03 July 2023, only arrived 10 hours after it was first called. Once at Eerste Rivier Hospital, this elderly woman had to be assisted by another trauma patient because she was not being assisted by hospital staff. Other patients at Eerste River Hospital reported having to wait many hours before being attended to.

Our Constitution guarantees everyone inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. Everyone also has the Constitutional right to access to health care services. Having to wait for 10 hours for an ambulance to take you to the hospital whilst you are bleeding profusely and having to wait for hours to be attended to at a hospital, is a violation of these rights.

ActionSA has requested the Western Cape Minister of Health & Wellness to conduct an investigation into the response times of ambulances, waiting periods for patient transport and waiting times for patients to be attended to by hospital staff at Eerste Rivier Hospital.

ActionSA will monitor Dr Mbombo’s investigation and will, if necessary, refer this matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) if this matter is not dealt with with all due gravity.

Issued by Michelle Wasserman, Provincial Chairperson, ActionSA Western Cape, 11 July 2023