Health Department Reports Vacant Nursing and EMS Posts

National figures as at 31 July 2026 show vacancies for doctors, nurses and emergency medical services staff, with George's EMS station reporting fewer operational ambulances than previously indicated.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Nursing Jobs

Empty ambulance bay with open doors beside a plain municipal building, one white ambulance parked inside under warm late-afternoon light, dry hills behind. — The National Department of Health reported vacant nursing, doctor and EMS posts as at 31 July 2026, while George EMS Station now runs fewer ambulances than previously stated. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you think public hospitals and ambulances in your area are adequately staffed?

The National Department of Health reported vacant posts for medical doctors, nurses and emergency medical services personnel as at 31 July 2026, extracted from the Personnel and Salary Administration System. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said George EMS Station has an average of four ambulances on day shift and three on night shift.

Why it matters

Reported vacancies do not necessarily represent funded and available posts, and filling them depends on approved personnel budgets and fiscal constraints facing provincial health departments. For South Africans relying on public health services, the staffing picture determines how quickly critical services can be delivered.

The PERSAL extraction as at 31 July 2026 covers vacancies across doctors, nurses and EMS personnel, but the reported vacancy counts are not confirmed as funded posts. George EMS Station averages four day-shift and three night-shift ambulances, and the department disputes an earlier figure of two.

The players

National Department of Health

The national government department responsible for health policy and oversight of provincial health services across South Africa.

Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness

The provincial department that manages public health services in the Western Cape, including the EMS station at George.

The details

Vacancy data was drawn from PERSAL, and the detailed breakdown per hospital is attached as an annexure to the parliamentary response. Ambulances at George EMS Station, part of the Garden Route EMS District, may be deployed from adjacent stations within the district when needed.

31 July 2026: Vacancy data is extracted from the PERSAL system.
11 November 2026: The ministerial response is published on PMG.

Market Landscape

Provincial health departments in South Africa operate under Compensation of Employees budget constraints that limit how many approved posts can be filled. The vacancy figures for doctors, nurses and EMS staff reflect this ongoing fiscal pressure rather than a new shortage.

Nurses and EMS workers considering public sector posts should check whether vacancies are funded before applying. Patients in areas such as George may face longer response times if ambulance cover stays limited.

The takeaway

Staffing figures from a single date show where pressure exists, but funded posts determine what changes on the ground. Watch for budget decisions from provincial health departments to see whether vacancies are filled.