In an effort to continue saving lives while protecting their own, armed ambulance crews took to the Bay’s streets at the weekend, despite instructions from the health department prohibiting firearms on duty.
A senior official from the SA Emergency Personnel Union said some ambulance crews in the Eastern Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay went on duty while armed with legal firearms this weekend.
“Yes there were few members who armed themselves over the weekend,” the official, who asked not to be named, said.
“Fortunately there was not a single attack or attempted robbery. I think the robbers read the newspaper.”
She said the union had set out its position clearly in information sheets put up around Emergency Medical Services bases around the province.
“We want them to carry legal firearms, not illegal guns.”
Last week, a standoff developed between the union and the Health Professions Council of SA over a controversial call by the union for crews to arms themselves when attending to incidents during the festive season.
An emergency services member, who also asked to remain anonymous, said he was against the carrying of firearms.
“I don’t carry a firearm as I believe this will make us even more of a target, but I don’t blame my colleagues who do. We are not protected out there,” he said.
Since January 15, ambulances have been attacked in Nelson Mandela Bay and their crews and patients robbed.
The bulk of the attacks took place since July and involved the robbery of patients receiving treatment.
The Board of Emergency Practitioners, which falls under the council, passed a resolution in 2012 that bars ambulance crews from being armed.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said ambulance crews were not allowed to carry weapons on duty.
“The department as the employer has not issued a directive allowing them to carry guns,” he said.
Sicwetsha said managers from the emergency services confirmed they had not found an armed worker on duty.
“The department has directed [managers] at its bases to make sure no-one carries a weapon at work.”
Following a high-level symposium held earlier in December at the University of the Western Cape to find a solution to the problem of ambulances being attacked, a position statement was published.
It said the focus must be on engaging with medical services staff to understand how their needs can be supported.
It also mentioned improving public awareness of the services it provides and improving understanding between it and communities.
The statement also said agencies responsible for policing and security must perform the role of protecting personnel and technology must be used to ensure rapid intervention where personnel are at risk.
It also called for the development of a national policy on EMS safety.