BCC faces critical ambulance shortage

Zim Now Writer

Bulawayo’s health services delivery has been negatively affected by an obtaining shortage of ambulances at the local authority.

The City’s internal audit revealed that Bulawayo is operating at 40% of its full establishment with six operational ambulances out of the requirement of 15.

The unit, according to the audit, is operating with just 62 staff members instead of the required 108, a situation that is further affecting emergency services.

“We noted that the division is operating with a fleet of six operational ambulances out of an establishment of 15 to cater for clientele demand. This translates to 40 percent of the full establishment. The current operational ambulances are grossly inadequate considering the average daily calls of 45 to 50. Most ambulance crew members responding to our survey and interviews reported that due to a lack of ambulances and a shortage of human resources, there is an increase in workload which is now managed by few ambulance personnel manning the city,” reads part of the audit report.

The shortage has caused ambulance deployment challenges, increasing the reaction time to well beyond the stipulated 10 minutes.

“The problems arise when the demand for ambulances increases for various reasons. Due to the gross shortage, the section must respond within the stipulated standard procedure time of 10 minutes. The available ambulances cannot effectively service areas without compromising the response time, leading to some emergency calls being left unattended for hours, often leading to the loss of lives and revenue losses to the city as some patients then opt to seek alternative ambulance services,” reads the report.

Some of the measures towards resolving the crisis within the city’s ambulance services recommended by the audit include the purchase of an additional nine fully equipped ambulances, together with the appointment of additional emergency medical services personnel.