ABOUT CMR AMBULANCE SERVICES

CMR Ambulance Services provides 24-hour Advanced Life-Support Ambulance services to Cape Town’s South Peninsula. For 24-hour patient transfers or transport, please contact 0861 782-333. For 24-hour emergency medical response, please call the CMR 24-hour number on 082 782-4444

CMR Ambulance Services is fully equipped and staffed by fully trained paramedics to provide:

• Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Life-Support patient transport as per patient requirements
• Intensive Care Transport of critically ill or injured patients to an appropriate hospital or care facility

CMRAS is registered with the Board of Health Care Funders (BHF) and with the Private Ambulance Association of South Africa (SAPAESA).

Fees to non-members are charged as per the National Health Reference Price List (NHRPL) published annually by the Department of Health. Although CMRAS will assist any member of the public, members do take priority.

CMR members can subscribe to the CMR Ambulance Add-on Service, whereby, for a small monthly premium, they can get free ambulance transportation in the event of any medical emergency. Members also are entitled to one non-emergency ambulance transportation per year – either from or to hospital to home or a step-down facility.

Background and Rotary involvement

In 2007, CMR added an “Ambulance Add-On” Service for subscribers to CMR’s paramedic service, where CMR subscribers would be covered for emergency ambulance transportation for an additional low monthly cost. This service was initially subcontracted to ER24.

In July 2008, CMR was handed the keys of a brand new ambulance dedicated to serving the Cape Peninsula's Far South community.  The ambulance was licensed “Rotary-1”, and the vehicle was significantly funded by an anonymous donor and the Rotary Clubs of Claremont and Newlands who each contributed to the operational costs for the first two years.

The motivation, from Rotary’s perspective, was to have a vehicle in the South Peninsula that could step in and transport Far South residents when the Provincial Ambulance Service was unable to respond in an appropriate time, as well to be available to local projects, sporting and recreational events as well as to larger Rotary projects such as the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour and The Big Walk.

As the use of the CMRAS vehicle increased, a practice number was sought via the Board of Health Care Funders in order for CMRAS to bill medical schemes and other medical service providers for services rendered to non-members with medical insurance. Intermediate Life Support status was sought and approved, and later Advanced Life Support status.

In December 2009, CMRAS took over the CMR Ambulance Add-On contract from ER24, and an additional ambulance was bought and equipped. Additional full-time staff were also employed, and the ambulance usage steadily increased.

The ambulance service now runs 24-hours a day.

HOSPITAL TRANSFERS

CMR Ambulance Services provides Advanced Life-Support ambulance that are fully equipped and staffed to provide:

• Intensive Care Transport of critically ill or injured patients to an appropriate hospital or care facility
• Discharges to the patient’s home or step-down facility
• Long Distance transport, if required
• Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Life-Support patient transport as per patient requirements.

CMRAS is registered with the Board of Health Care Funders (BHF) and with the Private Ambulance Association of South Africa (SAPAESA).

Fees are charged as per the National Health Reference Price List (NHRPL).

For more information please call Bianca de Meyer (office hrs) on  021 782-0606.

PRACTICE NO.: 009 003 0340022. REG. NO.: 2007/121456/23