Ambulance shortage sparks alarm in North West

NW – The Public Servants Association (PSA) has sounded the alarm on 10 September 2025, on what it calls a ‘state of collapse’ in North West Emergency Medical Services (EMS), warning that dangerously long ambulance response times are putting lives at risk.

According to the PSA, the province requires 370 ambulances to meet national standards – yet only 72 are currently operational. Severe staff shortages and poor vehicle maintenance mean many ambulances stand idle, while patients in urgent need wait hours for help.

The problems are layered:

• Too few ambulances: Only a fraction of the required fleet is on the road.
• Staff shortages: Not enough trained paramedics are available to deploy existing vehicles.
• Breakdowns: Many ambulances are parked due to mechanical faults and lack of maintenance.
• Misuse of resources: Vehicles are often tied up with non-emergency patient transport, leaving fewer to respond to true emergencies.

The PSA is demanding immediate intervention from the North West Premier and Health MEC, urging transparent reporting on ambulance availability and staffing.