C. Khor
St John Ambulance Malaysia (SJAM) has moved its Relau ambulance base from Lilitan Sungai Ara to Hilir Paya Terubong. The new Relau ambulance base serves Relau, Bayan Baru, Batu Maung and Bayan Lepas. It opened on 15 November.
The base is part of the Health Ministry’s (KKM) ambulance hotspot programme. The programme parks ambulances in busy areas, not at hospitals. As a result, the base takes 250 to 270 emergency calls a month, all through 999.
Here is why SJAM moved, who the base serves and what it costs. However, the move itself cost about RM150,000, and donations have not yet covered half of that. Therefore, SJAM is still looking for funds.
Relau ambulance base: why SJAM left Lilitan Sungai Ara
The old base had neither water nor electricity, said SJAM Penang Commander Datuk Seri Dr Yee Thiam Sun. Staff relied on power from the neighbouring Pusat Jagaan Suria. As a result, the move was about basic working conditions as well as coverage.
The service has moved several times. It began on 24 December 2005 at Min Sin Primary School. In July 2006, it moved to Klinik Kesihatan Jalan Baru in Bayan Baru. Afterwards, it went to the Relau Tua Pek Kong Temple in 2016. Likewise, Lilitan Sungai Ara followed in December 2018.
The new site is land from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). The rental can be renewed every three years. Meanwhile, SJAM Malaysia Commander-in-Chief Datuk Lai See Ming has a request. He asked the government to gazette the land for SJAM’s permanent use.
Yee recalled that the service began with an 18-year-old ambulance. It was barely working and lacked basic equipment. Moreover, it first ran mostly on weekends with no dedicated staff.
Relau ambulance base coverage: 150,000 people and 250 calls
Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said the area has 150,000 residents, according to the Department of Statistics. About 64,000 are registered voters there. However, many residents are still registered to vote elsewhere. Many live in high-rise homes.
Wong said the area had limited ambulance cover. As a result, residents in Relau and Bayan Baru went to Hospital Pulau Pinang or Hospital Balik Pulau. Klinik Kesihatan Relau is nearby. However, it serves a large catchment.
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SJAM Penang’s Tan Teik Kean gave a breakdown of the calls. Medical emergencies such as strokes, heart attacks and fainting make up 68%. Meanwhile, road accidents account for 20%. Trauma cases, such as falls and industrial injuries, account for 10%. Cardiac arrests needing CPR and other emergencies make up 1% each.
Dr Aou Tze Yang is the emergency physician in charge of prehospital care at Hospital Pulau Pinang. He said the hotspot arrangement had shortened response times. However, survival also depends on other factors. In addition, the programme began in 2022.
Relau ambulance base costs: RM250 a call and RM900,000 a year
The 999 service is free for the public. However, Tan said each call costs about RM250 to handle. Likewise, the yearly cost of running SJAM’s 999 service in Penang is about RM900,000.
SJAM has 20 paid staff in Penang, including nurses and paramedics. It also has 30 volunteers. Meanwhile, the Relau base has two full-time staff and volunteers. KKM requires at least one medically trained person on every ambulance.
Wong pledged RM5,000 towards the new base. In addition, MyAED4U founder Steven Yeoh donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) set worth RM10,000. Wong urged SJAM to teach CPR and AED use there. He recalled its slogan, “One first aider for every home”.
A 999 call goes first to a Response Centre. After that, it passes to the Medical Emergency Coordination Centre at Hospital Seberang Jaya. Hospital Pulau Pinang, also called Penang General Hospital, then finds the nearest ambulance. Those who want a hospital of their choice, including a private one, can use SJAM’s separate ambulance service. In short, call 999 in an emergency.
Sidhaarthan
Amirull Salihing
Yalinie Mathan
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