Cape Town – Two paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal, are being investigated for allegedly refusing to assist a woman in need of medical attention.
The paramedics reportedly refused to carry the woman down a flight of stairs to transport her to the hospital.
The incident came to light when neighbours attempted to help the woman by carrying her up the stairs while the paramedics accused them of being too slow and left the scene.
“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’s not our job to walk down the stair’” and demanded that the patient be brought up by her relatives instead.
“While neighbours were trying to carry the patient up the stairway, the paramedics allegedly accused them of being ‘too slow’ and ‘wasting our time’, and left the scene,” the department said on Monday.
The highly distressed patient was eventually transported to a nearby clinic with an e-hailing taxi service.
She was subsequently transferred to hospital by another Emergency Medical Services ambulance, said the department.
The department expressed its concern over the allegations and urged the public to report any similar incidents.
“The 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,” said the department.
It further encouraged the public to make use of its “Bika Sikusize” mobile application (app) to report any acts of impropriety, so that they can be dealt with urgently.
“The Department will not hesitate to take the most stringent action possible against any emergency healthcare staff who deliberately fail to discharge their duties and prioritise the life and well-being of those in need,” it said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
