High cost of hoax calls

Malicious calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service have wasted 1,874 hours of staff time over the last four years, data shows.

Figures reveal there were 7,460 malicious calls to the emergency service between 2014-15 and 2018-19.

Call handlers and paramedics wasted 112,469 minutes on such calls during that time – equivalent to 78 whole days.

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-hamilton warned that ambulance staff are under huge strain.

He said that those behind the calls “should be ashamed of themselves”, adding they are putting lives at risk.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We strongly condemn hoax calls to our emergency services.”