Hectic Hogmanay for ambulance crews
There was a big increase in ambulance call-outs on Hogmanay, compared to the previous year.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said its control centres received 2565 calls between 7pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.
This is an increase of 38.4 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Between midnight and 7am on New Year’s Day the service saw a 45 per cent increase in demand, with 1879 calls this time around compared to only 583 last year.
The service said it was prepared to deal with the high levels of demand with additional call handlers, dispatchers, ambulance crews and support staff on duty.
Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “The festive period has been a challenge for the service, due to a significant increase in demand and pressures on the system.
“Yet again our staff in our control centres, on the front line, support staff and volunteers have risen to this challenge and showed what an incredible group of dedicated people they are.”
Ms Howie added: “Working in often challenging and relentless circumstances, they did a fantastic job of managing and responding to this big increase in demand and showed that across the country we continue to strive to deliver the highest level of care to our patients.” Pauline Howie
Yet again our staff have risen to this challenge