Cops issue ambulance concerns
POLICE have raised concerns after officers performed CPR on a man after being told an ambulance would take 20 minutes.
The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said its members were increasingly being called on to respond to medical emergencies.
The patient was taken to A&E in the back of a police van.
POLICE have raised concerns about the availability of ambulances after a man was rushed to hospital by officers while they performed CPR.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, said its members were increasingly being called on to respond to medical emergencies.
The patient, who had overdosed, was taken to A&E in Greenock, Inverclyde, in the back of a police van.
Officers took the decision after being told it would take paramedics 20 minutes to get to the incident, which happened last week.
It is understood the incident was initially classed as being not lifethreatening by the ambulance service following a call from police officers.
The SPF said the incident was “one of a number” it was aware of.
A police source said: “The ambulance service were called to a guy taking an overdose but said they weren’t going because they didn’t know which flat it was.
“The police went because it was a life-at-risk issue. The guy had to be handcuffed and restrained, but then started losing consciousness.
“The officers were shouting for an ambulance, but were told it was at least 20 minutes away because of a shift change over.
“He was in and out of consciousness and they were doing CPR in the back of the van getting him to hospital – they thought he was going to die.”
SPF chair Andrea MacDonald said: “It is utterly unacceptable for police officers to be carrying out the duties of the ambulance service and had it not been for the quick thinking and adaptability of the officers involved, this could have had a different and tragic outcome.”
Last year, the Unite union said morale at the Scottish Ambulance Service was at “rock bottom” because of excessive demands placed on staff.
Unite also warned of an increase in the “turnaround” times before an ambulance is ready for its next call.
Responding to the latest incident, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “The concept of emergency services working together in life and death situations is to be encouraged.
“But it’s clear from these concerns that the arrangement is going too far, and it’s down to a lack of resources.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We work closely with Police Scotland control, and at busy times embed Scottish Ambulance Service staff in their control to make sure we get the right resource to match patient need.
“We respond to Police Scotland calls with equal priority to all other 999 calls based on the information we receive about how unwell the patient is.
“Often additional information is forthcoming and, as in this case, this can result in the call being upgraded to a higher response category.
“We are continually investing in our frontline, training around 200 new paramedics each year, increasing community CPR skills and working with partnership agencies and our growing network of volunteer community first responders.”