Awareness and First Aid
ER24 provides medical support to the residents of St Helena Island. Thandiwe Makhubu, an ER24 Basic Life Support medic in Johannesburg, explains her role as a MAS Concierge Service Officer.
St Helena Island is a remote subtropical destination in the South Atlantic Ocean with only 4 500 inhabitants that lies six-and-a-half hours by air from Johannesburg. As the small hospital on the island has limited equipment and resources, ER24 and Mediclinic provide support whenever residents need specialised medical care. ER24 facilitates return patient transport between the South African airport, accommodation and Mediclinic hospital for the necessary medical treatment.
Medical support
BLS medic Thandiwe Makhubu is a Medical Assistance Services (MAS) concierge service officer for ER24’s St Helena Government (SHG) contract – a role that extends much further than ensuring patients are transported safely. “I sit with them in doctor appointments and take notes when necessary. I also help them with hospital admissions and discharges and check they have all the necessary medication,” she explains.
“Some are children, some are pensioners, and others are cancer patients requiring long-term chemotherapy and radiation. They may travel with parents or carers or come alone. I make sure I’m there for them emotionally, and that they always feel comfortable. Patients can contact me or fellow concierge Engela Goss at any time, and when necessary, ER24 dispatches an ambulance for emergency medical support.
“I would love to visit St Helena soon – if I won the lottery I would go tomorrow! I visualise it in my head every day, and I love hearing stories about it. The people from St Helena are so cheerful and upbeat, even when they’re worried about upcoming medical procedures. I feel so valued and respected when I drive them around.”
Career in emergency medicine
Makhubu’s motivation for choosing emergency medicine as a career came as a result of witnessing a family tragedy, she says. “When I was 15, my favourite uncle died in my presence. It was a wake-up call for me because none of our family had any first aid training. I believe we could have saved him if we’d known how to perform CPR.”
Having qualified as a BLS medic, she joined ER24 in 2017, working at Johannesburg North branch and later Johannesburg West. “I soon realised I was called to this profession,” she says. “In the beginning I was concerned I would have nightmares after difficult cases. But even during callouts to tragic accidents I was able to stay calm and confident. It’s a challenging profession because when you’re working in road operations, you deal with people who are in pain and shock or are grieving. You need to understand their emotions – and reassure them while you’re treating them. It isn’t just a job – it's a calling.”
Makhubu works with ER24’s St Helena Government (SHG) Contract Manager Adri Botha and ER24 Operations Manager Gareth Staley, who fulfils the coordinator role for SHG.
ER24, a Mediclinic Group company, is proud to extend its world-class emergency medical services offerings internationally. Click here to read more about our recent expansion into the African continent and abroad and the services on offer.