The KwaZulu-Natal department of health has confirmed that none of the 52 patients transported via its planned patient transport bus were injured when it caught fire.
The bus which is from the uThukela Emergency Medical Rescue base caught fire on Monday, 4 November, near Cedara.
KZN HEALTH BUS TRANSPORTING PATIENTS CATCHES FIRE
KZN Health spokesperson Nathi Oliphant said following the incident, all patients were safely evacuated and transferred to Grey’s Hospital in the uMgungundlovu District using three 22-seater buses.
The department subsequently dispatched additional transport, including 22 and 35-seater PPT buses from the uThukela and uMgungundlovu EMS bases, to facilitate the patients’ safe return to their destinations.
“By midnight, all patients had been safely dropped off by EMS personnel in Estcourt, Ladysmith, Dundee and Vryheid.
“The cause of this incident is currently under internal investigation by the department. We wish to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident, and our EMS PPT buses remain among the safest and are staffed by highly trained personnel,” Oliphant explained.
