Troops saved Renfrewshire
Soldiers toiling at Johnstone Ambulance Station have been thanked by the service’s top official.
Scottish Ambulance Service chief executive Pauline Howie visited troops to thank them for their help over the past winter months.
But she discovered the soldiers also wanted to thank her, and the crews they worked with, for what they described as a hugely satisfying and interesting experience.
Mrs Howie was regaled with stories of how much they had gained from the task and that their military uniform had become a talking point for patients.
The ambulance boss was also told that some Army Reservists are considering career changes, so that they can continue to support their communities.
Sergeant Nina Dainese – a prison officer and a reservist with 71 Engineer Regiment - has already set her sights on changing roles.
She said:“I found it thoroughly fascinating, and I really enjoyed not only working with the ambulance crews but also interacting with the public.
“There was one elderly angler dressed in camouflage and who had a heart problem. We responded and when he became settled and spotted me in Army uniform he asked – are you an angler too?”
The Army provided drivers when the pandemic forced many ambulance drivers to self-isolate.
Pauline Howie said:“I was delighted to visit the troops at Johnstone to personally thank them for their support and I would like to extend this thanks to all the military personnel who have been deployed with SAS over the last six months. To hear that some are now keen to join the Service is testament to our fantastic, dedicated staff who have been working tirelessly through the pandemic.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:“The Scottish Ambulance Service is the heartbeat of our NHS and the assistance from our military personnel has proved invaluable over these challenging winter months. I would like to thank the army as a whole and those who were deployed. Their help ensured the service had the support.”