Pat September: a journey through trauma and compassion
Patricia Pat September, a 59-year-old medic from Portlands, has spent nearly three decades serving her community in emergency medical services. Now retired she is still offering her services to her community, checking vital signs, blood sugar testing, and death declarations.
With a career that spans over 27 years, Pat has seen it all—from trauma and violence to moments of deep personal connection with the people she served.
Pat’s journey into the medical field began in the trauma units of Groote Schuur Hospital where she witnessed first hand the harsh realities of emergency care.
“I remember the encounters I had with the ambulance guys when they brought in patients, by the time they came in, the people were already stabilised. I felt like these men and women in green were the first point of help and I wanted to be like that.
“It was a tough introduction, but it inspired me.”
After serving as a reservist for 10 years, Pat transitioned to a permanent position as a medic and decided to pursue her true passion.
She started working at the Pinelands base in 2000 as an Ambulance Emergency Assistant.
Later, she was transferred to Mitchells Plain station, where she began working in the Manenberg area—a job that would shape much of her career over the next 12 years.
It was in Manenberg where Pat encountered some of the most intense and challenging situations of her career, including dealing with gunshot wounds and escorting patients alongside the South African Police Service.
One particular morning, Pat recalled how the team went to get tea after their usual garage was out of coffee.
As they were getting ready to leave, gunshots rang out.
“A few minutes later Control radioed us that an elderly man was shot in both his legs, we accepted the call out. Police escorted us in and then had to attend to another scene close by.
“Suddenly, while we were stabilising the elderly man, shooting started again, and I had to cover the patient. My uniform was soaked in blood. The sounds of gunshots ringing over my head still stick with me today.”
That day, Pat went from one traumatic call to another, including two tragic accidents involving two young men and the other a six-year-old child.
“I remember kneeling down and praying at both scenes. I had the job to declare them deceased, that day I got home in my blood soaked uniform and went to stand in the shower, fully clothed and just cried.”
Despite the challenging and often dangerous nature of her work, it was an incident in Heideveld in 2018 that nearly forced Pat to walk away from her career.
“I was held at gunpoint during a call-out. The guy wanted me to open the door and put the gun against my head. When I tried to drive away, he pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed,” she recalled. “It was a terrifying experience, and I couldn’t shake the fear that my life was over. I struggled with PTSD and even suicidal thoughts after that incident.”
But Pat’s drive to continue helping others kept her going. “One night, I just sat down and thought, my mission isn’t over. I have to keep going because I chose this path to serve the people in my community. I saw the need, and I couldn’t walk away,” she said.
Determined to make a difference, Pat began offering affordable, low-cost medical call-outs in Mitchells Plain, providing services like vital sign checks, blood sugar testing, and death declarations.
“People often have to wait long for an ambulance for such services because medics are attending to priority cases, but on the flip side I also understand how traumatic it can be for families to see a loved one in pain or laying without a pulse. That’s why I offer these services to help ease their pain.”
Even after all these years, Pat’s approach remains grounded in care and empathy.
“I do this for the people who need it most.I basically only charge for my petrol and a small service fee to help me also get through the week.
“I don’t charge for follow-ups because I believe they need my support, especially after such difficult moments.”
For more information about her services or to reach out to Pat, you can contact her at patriciaseptember65@gmail.com
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za