NRH ambulances out of service for past six months: senior staff member
The fire truck ambulance used on loan by NRH
Ambulances at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara have been out of service for six months, reports a senior staff member.
Transport Manager Isaac Ramo told SIBC News today both of the hospital’s ambulances were awaiting maintenance.
Mr Ramo said without those vehicles the hospital now used two buses and a Land Cruiser to transport patients and staff.
He said sometimes transport employees had to borrow an ambulance from the fire department.
Mr Ramo siad even before the current mechanical issues the ambulances and equipment inside were outdated.
“Nothing works now,” he said. “Everything is old, some things should be thrown out. We need new things to make them function.”
The National Referral Hospital
Mr Ramo said meeting hospital transport demands would require four ambulances, additional Land Cruisers and buses, and 3-ton trucks.
But, he said, these vehicles cannot be purchased with the annual transport budget of $215,000SBD.
Hospital administrators could not be reached for comment before this story was published.