Health Minister Opens New R11.7 Million Ambulance Station in Ceres

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, opened the new R11.7 million Emergency Medical Services Station in Ceres on 21 May.

Minister Botha said that the opening marks the first of four EMS stations that the Western Cape Government will be opening this year. The next one is Tulbagh, also in the Winelands, then Vredendal on the West Coast and then Leeu-Gamka in the Central Karoo. "This indicates our government's commitment to building infrastructure and expanding our operational bases in rural areas," said Minister Botha.

The ambulance base was designed to meet the specific needs of the Witzenberg community, equipped to handle both medical and rescue emergencies and provides a waiting room for patients being transported on the HealthNET ambulances.

Ceres was elected as a priority for a new EMS station based on the assessments and the trend in ambulance response times. The other closest EMS stations are in Tulbagh, 25 km away, and Worcester, 56 km away. There are eight clinics in the area - Anna Brown Clinic, the Bella Vista Clinic, Op-die-Berg Clinic, Hamlet, Breërivier, Wolseley, Saron and Gouda.

At present, Ceres EMS handles about 1 100 to 1 400 calls per month. That translates into more than 200 per week and more than 30 in 24 hours. The fleet covers about 81 500 km per month.

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, opened the new R11.7 million Emergency Medical Services Station in Ceres on 21 May.