Why 21 Gauteng EMS officials are facing disciplinary action - IOL

Twenty-one Gauteng EMS officials face disciplinary action over alleged breaches of their shift rosters, while concerns about their professional conduct have been referred to the HPCSA.

The Gauteng Department of Health has charged 21 emergency medical services (EMS) officials for alleged dereliction of duty after they failed to complete their scheduled working hours.

The department, however, said EMS operations across the province remain uninterrupted and stressed that none of the officials are currently suspended.

The disciplinary action follows concerns that the officials did not comply with their employment contracts and approved shift rosters.

“EMS is an essential service and its employees are required to adhere to their contractual obligations and approved shift rosters,” Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said.

The department said contingency measures were in place to ensure emergency calls continued to receive a response, including support from nearby EMS stations based on operational needs and outstanding calls.

It said overtime, averaging of working hours and compressed working arrangements were managed in accordance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

Other overtime was remunerated through planned leave rosters, approved event submissions and late calls dispatched by the Emergency Communication Centre.

Employees who do not report for scheduled working hours are subject to the applicable no-work-no-pay principle, in accordance with policy, the department said.

The department also rejected reports that the employees had been threatened with dismissal.

However, the matter has been reported to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) following concerns that the conduct may have contravened professional and ethical rules applicable to emergency care practitioners, as prescribed by the Professional Board for Emergency Care.

“The GDoH takes employee discipline seriously and will not tolerate illdiscipline or conduct that compromises the delivery of essential health services,” Mabona said.

The department said it was also reviewing its EMS working hours policy through the Gauteng Health Policy Development Unit together with institutions.

The review is intended to ensure that working-hour arrangements remain clear and properly managed.

Mabona said EMS employees had an ethical responsibility to put patients and communities at the centre of their work.

“EMS personnel provide a critical, life-saving service, and employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that protects the lives and wellbeing of patients who depend on emergency medical services,” he said.

The department said it would continue supporting EMS officials while ensuring that appropriate processes were followed where there were allegations of misconduct or failure to comply with contractual obligations.