Ambulance dies on dusty road

2003-03-10 23:35

Simon Nare

Johannesburg - Eight patients from Klerksdorp hospital had to spend seven hours in the blazing sun after their ambulance broke down on Monday.

The patients, driver and two nurses spent the day waiting for another ambulance which was supposed to arrive immediately.

The patients were being transported to different hospitals for treatment at the time.

The exhausted nurses and patients were forced to sit in the heat. Fortunately they had food parcels which the hospital had provided.

"This is very frustrating. We could have been back home by now. If we arrive at the hospital now the queue will be very long and we will spend the rest of the day there," an angry Nomathemba Mbali said.

She said she could not understand why an ambulance from the neighbouring Westonaria hospital could not be sent to fetch them.

Lucky Shiba, the manager of a nearby supermarket, said the ambulance driver came to the shop shortly after 07:00. He asked to use a phone to inform the hospital about the breakdown.

"Tell me, if one of them had to die here, who would be responsible?"

While the driver waited in the main road for the ambulance, some patients used their hospital gowns and blankets to sleep in the dusty street.

- Daily Sun