Private Ambulance Providers' Response Time and Training and Qualifications Required Compared to SCDF Personnel
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns private ambulance response times, training standards relative to SCDF personnel, and protocols for escalating medical emergencies, as raised by Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim. Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the Ministry of Health does not track private response times because these services are primarily activated for less urgent cases. He emphasized that private providers are strictly regulated and must undergo biennial re-certification and regular skills refresher training for their personnel. Licensed providers are required to triage patients before conveyance and must call for an SCDF ambulance if they assess that a patient cannot be safely conveyed. Minister Ong Ye Kung advised that the public should call 995 directly for an SCDF ambulance in the first instance for all life-threatening medical emergencies.
Transcript
18 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average response time for private ambulance providers to reach a patient's location; (b) whether private ambulance providers are required to obtain the same standard of training qualifications and expertise as compared to SCDF ambulance personnel; and (c) under what circumstances in a medical emergency will private ambulance providers advise a patient or their family to call for an SCDF ambulance.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: While the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulances are activated for life-threatening medical emergencies by calling 995, private ambulances are activated for less urgent cases. Hence, Ministry of Health does not track response times for private ambulance providers arriving at the patients' locations.
That said, we regulate private ambulance services, which must, at all times, maintain valid certification, undergo periodic re-certification every two years as well as ensure that their personnel are properly qualified and attend regular skills refresher training.
Importantly, licensed ambulance providers are required to properly triage a patient before conveyance. Where the provider assesses that it cannot safely convey the patient, the provider must make appropriate alternative arrangements, such as calling for an SCDF ambulance, for the safe and timely conveyance of the patient. In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, the public should call for an SCDF ambulance in the first instance.