Region | Document | Publication date | Health facility focus | EMS focus | Supporting quote for EMS guidance | Ref |
National | A Policy on Quality in Healthcare for South Africa | April 2007 | Yes | No | Nil | 12 |
“Towards Quality Care for Patients” National Core Standards for Health Establishments in South Africa | 2011 | Yes | No | Nil | 25 | |
South African Department of Health Strategic Plan 2015–2019 | 2014 | Yes | Yes |
Strategic objectives:
| 26 | |
National Policy to Manage Complaints, Compliments and Suggestions in the Public Health Sector of South Africa | July 2016 | Yes | No | Nil | 27 | |
National Policy for Patient Safety Incident Reporting and Learning in the Public Health Sector of South Africa | July 2016 | Yes | No | Nil | 28 | |
National Health Act, 2003 (Act no. 61 of 2003) National Health Insurance Policy | 2017 | Yes | Yes |
Improving access to Emergency Medical Services:
156. A uniform level of quality for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Facility-based Emergency Care will be provided across the country according to nationally determined norms and standards in relation to the level of care, staffing requirements, prescribed equipment, suitability of response vehicles and ambulances and other relevant components based on the level of care. | 29 | |
National Health Act, 2003 (Act no. 61 of 2003) Emergency Medical Service Regulation | December 2017 | No | Yes |
Consideration of application for Licence:
(c) the need to promote quality services which are accessible, affordable, cost-effective and safe; (h) where applicable, the quality of health services rendered by the applicant in the past; | 30 | |
Management of Emergency Medical Service:
(b) ensure that the Emergency Medical Service is operated in a way that provides quality care and does not compromise the safety of the public, patient or personnel; (t) ensure that there are mechanisms in place for the management of complaints, consultation, clinical governance and quality assurance | ||||||
Professional Board for Emergency Care Clinical Practice Guidelines | 2018 | No | Yes |
Important Additional notes
All interventions and medications are to be performed and administered within the Clinical Practice Guidelines and a locally relevant standard of care. Clinical governance structures shall support these guidelines | 31 | |
Western Cape | Western Cape Ambulance Services Act, 2003 | 2003 | No | Yes |
Norms, standards and quality assurance
7. (1) The MEC shall prescribe minimum norms and standards for the delivery of ambulance services which will include—
| 32 |
Healthcare 2030 | 2014 |
Emergency Medical Services:
| 33 | |||
Western Cape Government Health Annual Report | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
Reported indicators:
| 34 | |
KwaZulu Natal | KwaZulu Natal Department of Health Strategic Plan 2015–2019 | 2015 | Yes | Yes |
Priority 2: Improve the Efficiency of Emergency Medical Services:
| 35 |
Quality improvement Intervention based on Patients Safety Incident (PSI) | 2016 | Yes | Nil | Nil | 36 | |
KwaZulu Natal Department of Health Annual Report | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
Reported indicators:
| 37 | |
North West Province | North West Department of Health Strategic Plan 2015–2019 | 2015 | Yes | Yes |
Strategic Goal 2:
| 38 |
North West Department of Health Annual Report | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
Reported indicators:
EMS interfacility Transfer rate | 39 | |
Limpopo | Limpopo Department of Health Annual Report | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
Reported indicators:
| 40 |