Oban councillors hit out at town’s ‘unacceptable lack of ambulances

Councillors have slammed an ‘unacceptable’ lack of ambulances around Oban after a woman fell and lay on a cold, wet pavement for two hours before being taken to A&E.

They said the service’s ‘Yes Minister’ response dents people’s confidence, with one adding it would be quicker for people to ask someone to just drive them to hospital.

Wednesday’s meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee began by relating the incident in Dunbeg a fortnight ago, when the women slipped and fell on an uneven pavement in bad weather.

She lay in the cold, with water running underneath her, for around 120 minutes, waiting for an ambulance. Councillors also heard Taynuilt Medical Practice ‘refused’ to assist and offer painkillers. The women, who seriously injured her knee, is still in hospital.

Stuart McLean, committee manager at Argyll and Bute Council, read out an email received from the woman’s daughter, where she asked councillors: ‘I wish to ask if local councillors are aware of any issues in relation to Scottish Ambulance Service emergency response time, staffing, and emergency vehicle provision.

‘I also wish to raise the issue of continuity of emergency care offered by medical practices in the local area, given the fact Taynuilt Medical Practice refused to get involved in assisting my mum during her unacceptable wait for an ambulance to arrive.’

Mr McLean then read a response from the Scottish Ambulance Service, which has two 24-hour vehicles in Oban.

‘The pandemic has resulted in shifts being uncovered, like all other organisations. In the event of there being no ambulance within Oban area due to operational demand, then Lochgilphead would be dispatched if available.’

Councillor Julie McKenzie said: ‘It’s a really troubling case. I don’t think the response from the ambulance service really cuts it. We obviously have an issue with staffing and resourcing ambulances in the Oban area. It is incumbent on us to get to the bottom of how this came about and make sure it does not happen again.’

Councillor Kieron Green, policy lead for health and social care, said: ‘Obviously the situation in Dunbeg was unacceptable. Unfortunately it is not the first time people have had to wait for long periods for ambulance cover, and it illustrates the fragmented nature of services locally.’

Regarding Taynuilt Medical Practice, Councillor Green added: ‘We have a situation where large parts of community health care are the responsibility of independent medical practices, and it can be quite difficult to get them to act in a coordinated fashion unless it is exactly specified in a contract.’

Councillor Roddy McCuish said: ‘I have no comfort in the ‘Yes Minister’ answer from the Scottish Ambulance Service. As Oban continues to grow, and grow quickly, we are still operating with the services we did before we built all these extra houses, so we are behind the curve on this.’