NELSON Mandela Bay’s ambulance service, already suffering a critical shortage of vehicles, has been dealt a further blow with almost half its staff placed on “incapacity” leave. They had not renewed their Public Drivers Permits (PDP) and Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA) membership, meaning they no longer met their work requirements under the Labour Relations Act.
The service has been severely affected by the vehicle shortage and staff suspensions. A DA probe revealed only four ambulances were available at the weekend to service the entire metropole. DA health spokesman Pine Pienaar said the state of emergency health services in the province was “totally unacceptable” and said there was a real concern that they would not be ready for the World Cup. Read the full story in The Herald.