Craig Grindell, Chief Operating Officer of Netcare 911, explained: "After carefully considering the emergency medical needs of residents and visitors to the area we found that the Netcare 911 base is not key to the provision of quality emergency medical services in the region."
Although the 11 George Netcare 911 staff members respect the national decision, they said that it does not make the news any easier. "We have been given until 25 March to decide whether to accept a transfer within the Netcare 911 group or the retrenchment package that they are offering," said Seneka who added that it was not easy for many of the staff members who, like himself, have families to consider.
Senekal, who has been representing the Netcare 911 George base for seven of its 12 year existence, said that the team are not just colleagues but function more like a family. Lara Smith, Netcare 911 George Medic, echoed his sentiments saying: "We are all so sad, because George is a small base we operate as a family and we realise that we will now no longer be working as one."
To this, Smith's colleague, Brian Jansen van Vuuren added: "In our nature of work we literally entrust our partner with our life so it is natural that such an environment creates the close bond between all of us."
Besides the sadness which has enveloped the George base, Smith said that it was remarkable that the work ethic within the group had not changed since the sad announcement. "We have all pulled together, respecting one another and the feelings we are working through. "Everybody still arrives at work on time and gives 100 percent of themselves during our working hours. It really is remarkable. There is so much support."
This is not the first time that Netcare 911 George has closed its base. According to Senekal and Janse van Rensburg, the company had closed prior to 2005 just to be re-opened again.
Grindell concluded that Netcare 911 had made use of service providers in the area for several years. "We are confident that they, are well placed to continue providing quality medical emergency services to the people in the area."
The staff members of Netcare 911s George base, still reeling after hearing of their base's imminent closure at the end of March. Some of the staff members are from left: Brian Jansen van Vuuren, Mthokozisi Zulu, Juanita Blignaut, Chantel Rabie, Lara Smith, Shaun Botha and Netcare 911 George Base Manager Charl Senekal. (Absent: Claina Kotze, Winston Lee and Francois le Roux).
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
