MINIBUS DRIVERS SENT ON 999 CALLS

Ambulance service facing a fresh staff ing crisis

SCOTLAND’s ambulance service is sending minibuses to respond to 999 emergencies in a move that has sparked fears over patient safety.

The number of patient transport vehicles sent to emergency calls has trebled over the past four years.

The vehicles are designed to take patients to and from routine healthcare appointments but statistics show they are increasingly responding to more serious calls.

While the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) transport vehicles carry basic equipment – ‘shock box’ defibrillators and oxygen – they are crewed by drivers who only have minimal medical training and cannot treat or assess patients.

By contrast, ambulances are fully equipped with life-saving technology and are staffed by much more highly trained crews.

Campaigners warned that sending Patient

A BOMBSHELL report suggests up to 600 extra ambulance workers are needed to meet the spiralling demands being placed on Scotland’s ‘massively understaffed’ service.

Experts commissioned by the Scottish Ambulance Service say hundreds more paramedics, specialist paramedics and technicians must be recruited to ensure a proper service across the country.

Campaigners warned that lives are at risk from underinvestment and called for proper funding from the Scottish Government.

They said new superhospitals add to pressure by taking ambulances out of their local area.

Jamie McNamee, convener of the Unite union, said ‘dozens’ of extra ambulances were needed, adding: ‘We need to tackle understaffing and under-resourcing before lives are lost. We have options presented which suggest we are 300-600 staff short. In higher demographic areas that shortage becomes more acute.’

An SAS spokesman said: ‘This report, which looks at predicted demand, is in line with recruitment plans.’