“No-bed syndrome” undermining emergency care — Ambulance Service Deputy Director

The Deputy Director of the National Ambulance Service, Simmons Yussif Kewura, has raised fresh concerns about Ghana’s persistent “no-bed syndrome,” warning that it continues to severely hamper effective emergency response and patient survival.

His comments come in the wake of public anger over the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, who sustained critical injuries in a hit-and-run accident at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra.

According to reports, personnel of the National Ambulance Service promptly stabilised Mr Amissah at the scene and transported him to several major health facilities, including the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and later the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

However, he was allegedly denied admission at each facility due to the unavailability of beds — a recurring challenge within Ghana’s emergency healthcare system widely referred to as “no-bed syndrome.”

Speaking to Citi News, Mr Kewura said the tragic incident highlights the operational frustrations faced daily by ambulance crews across the country.

“Everything boils down to the no-bed syndrome. We do not provide holistic medical care. Our role is to stabilise the patient and ensure the person gets to a health facility for proper treatment.

So when we get there and there is no bed, it makes our work very difficult,” he explained.

He noted that while ambulance personnel are trained to offer life-saving pre-hospital care, their effectiveness ultimately depends on the ability of hospitals to receive and manage emergency cases promptly.

Mr Kewura called on health authorities and policymakers to adopt sustainable, long-term solutions to address bed shortages, improve emergency preparedness, and strengthen coordination between ambulance services and hospitals.

He stressed that the National Ambulance Service remains fully committed to saving lives but warned that systemic capacity constraints within health facilities continue to undermine emergency response efforts and place patients at grave risk.

The renewed concerns add to the growing national debate on emergency healthcare delivery, following the Ministry of Health’s recent decision to institute a probe into the circumstances surrounding Mr Amissah’s death.