A bus that was transporting patients caught fire while en route to various hospitals near Cedara in KZN. On Monday, one of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health’s Planned Patient Transport (PPT) vehicles experienced a fire while transporting patients. The vehicle, part of the uThukela Emergency Medical Rescue unit, was carrying 52 individuals when the fire broke out near Cedara. Fortunately, all patients were evacuated without injury.
Additional Transport Arranged for Safe Transfer
After the initial transfer to Grey’s Hospital, additional resources were mobilized to ensure patients reached their final destinations safely. The department coordinated the deployment of 22 and 35-seater patient transport vehicles from the uThukela and uMgungundlovu EMS (Emergency Medical Services) bases.
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KZN DoH said no patients have been injured after one of their Planned Patient Transport (PPT) caught fire yesterday. @WitnessKZN
Video : Supplied pic.twitter.com/hesOYzvEg8
— Prashalan Govender (@PrashalanGov) November 5, 2024
These buses distributed the patients to various locations, including Estcourt, Ladysmith, Dundee, and Vryheid. By midnight, all patients had successfully reached their destinations, thanks to the efforts of the EMS personnel who coordinated the safe and organized transfer.
Investigation Launched into Incident Cause
The KZN Department of Health has announced that an internal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the bus fire. In their statement, department representatives assured the public that this incident was isolated and emphasised their PPT fleet’s safety standards. They noted that their patient transport buses are equipped with comprehensive safety measures and are staffed by highly trained professionals to prioritize the well-being of all passengers.
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“Our EMS PPT vehicles are among the safest in operation, staffed by skilled personnel dedicated to patient safety”