Statement by Provincial Health Minister, Pierre Uys: Opening of New Ambulance Station at Leeu Gamka | Western Cape Government

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Statement by Provincial Health Minister, Pierre Uys: Opening of New Ambulance Station at Leeu Gamka

12 December 2005
"An Emergency Medical Service, including ambulance and medical rescue services, has been established at Leeu-Gamka along the so called "road of death" between Laingsburg and Beaufort West. With more then a million vehicles travelling on this road every year, it has a high number of serious and fatal vehicle accidents " min. Uys said today when opening the facility.

The Emergency Medical Services deliver a range of acute medical response services throughout the Western Cape, including ambulance services, which forms the core of the service. Access to health services in emergencies on this specific road and in the surrounding remote rural communities, is a continuing challenge and depends on the availability of ambulances within reasonable response time frames. "With this new service we will improve our response time significantly and lighten the pressure on ambulance staff operating currently within the Central Karoo communities" min Uys said.

"The service will be available twenty-four hours per day, covering a radius of 100 km from Leeu Gamka and including the towns of Merweville, Prince Albert Road, Klaarstroom,the N1 Highway and surrounding farming communities" the Minister added. The ambulances and rescue vehicles will be fully equipped at an Advanced Life Support (ALS) level for critically ill or injured patients. Another benefit of the service is that it increases availability of existing ambulances for emergency responses within other local communities in the district. Staff will include a paramedic and an advanced rescue medic.

The new ambulance service adds another cog in the EMS system and enables the department to react faster to critical conditions and serious injuries caused by accidents, thus reducing fatalities. Minister Uys, however, urged the public to drive carefully during this festive season and adhere to the basics . " Our motorists are well educated and they know exactly what to do to reach their destination safely" Uys said.

Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Department of Health

Faiza Steyn
Director: Communication
021 483 3235

Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
+27 483 2627

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