MCA Rembau Public Complaints Bureau chief Ye Yuqiang (transliteration) has voiced dissatisfaction over the slow response given by health officials after an elderly woman experienced breathing difficulties.
This comes after the ambulance only arrived an hour after he made the emergency call.
Waited an hour for ambulance
According to China Press, the woman in her 80s, who lives alone, had trouble breathing and reached out to Ye for his help in calling for an ambulance.
Ye said he received the woman’s call for help around 7am and immediately dialed the 999 emergency hotline at 7.11am. However, the first call failed to connect.
On his second attempt at 7.12am, the call went through and Ye gave the operator the woman’s full address.
“Because the woman’s condition was critical, I called again at 8am after waiting for a long time with no ambulance in sight. It wasn’t until 8.13am did it finally arrive,” he said.
The woman was later sent to the Pilah Hospital for treatment.
Not enough ambulances at the time
Ye later revealed that according to medical staff, the ambulance was transporting another patient to the Pilah Hospital, while other ambulances were undergoing maintenance, thus leading to the delay.
He expressed regret over the incident, stressing that it highlighted the lack of ambulances in the Rembau and Bahau areas.
“I call upon the Health Ministry and relevant authorities to take the matter seriously by increasing the number of ambulances and improving dispatch efficiency so that people in emergencies can receive timely medical aid.
“Ambulance services are a matter of life and death as delays can lead to dire consequences. I hope the authorities will prioritise the needs of local residents, especially the safety of elderly people living alone,” he added.
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