Nelson Mandela Bay’s emergency medical services (EMS) workers are so traumatised by being targeted by criminals that they will no longer enter hotspot areas without a police escort.
Picketing nursing staff at Dora Nginza Hospital’s main gate barred ambulances from entering or leaving the premises on Thursday, also preventing patients who had been discharged, visitors and a Herald reporter from leaving.
Nelson Mandela Bay’s emergency services are in poor health, with nine ambulances out of action, a hotline not operational during load-shedding and employees coming under frequent attack.