Our Ambulance Axed but Service No Worse Says Health Chief

Audience Baffled
Mr Gordon, who is general manager of the east central division of the Scottish Ambulance Service, provided no written report, no detailed figures, and relied on a few scribbled notes on a folded piece of A4. The baffled audience tried to make sense of his arguments which included the claim that the cut was not about saving money but about better use of resources that are currently underused.

Challenged to show the statistical basis of his decision, Mr Gordon said that a reference group of local people who have been advising him had been sent a CD, and could pass this on to anyone interested. A member of the reference group revealed that every member was opposed to Mr Gordon’s decision though this had failed to influence him.

Several local doctors called into question the validity of statistics and audience members from Glen Lyon and Kinloch Rannoch expressed concern that people’s lives would be threatened by long delays in getting help. There were fears Mr Gordon was taking advantage of the presence of the out of hours response unit with a paramedic based in Aberfeldy cottage hospital at night time, but that the funding of this by the NHS could not be relied on.

The reference group will continue to meet with Mr Gordon to monitor the effects of the changes. But local councillor Ken Lyall who is an employee of the ambulance service was highly critical of the decison.

In a statement issued after the meeting he said: “Over two years ago our ambulance cover was reduced without consultation which led to a public meeting where the management agreed to reinstate the present service, and to form a community liaison group to look at the issues and demand in Highland Perthshire. The group has continually argued for no reduction in cover. There has not been any form of meeting for around six months now until this week, with no information being forthcoming from the ambulance service management.

Dramatic Rise in Demand
“Ambulance cover throughout the country is never far away from the news recently with the number of patients dramatically rising, especially since the local Out of Hours Agreement for GPs started. A recent report states that the number of people treated in our Tayside accident and emergency hospitals has risen by 10% in the last 6 years, with Ninewells Hospital increasing by a staggering 38%.

“There have also been high profile news items in the national press highlighting the lack of ambulance cover all over, this along with the recent European Working Time Directive, which requires staff to be offered a rest break of 45 minutes every 12 hours. In many cases that means an ambulance is ‘off the road’ during that time.

“It is also a fact that the ambulance cover in Crieff and Blairgowrie has been reduced in the last couple of years which also has a knock on effect for here. Even with the present cover there have been incidents, one in the last week where local provision was not enough and a Perth ambulance attended a 999 call in Kinloch Rannoch.”

Cllr Lyall went on: "When all of these facts are taken into account it is hard to argue for any reduction in ambulance cover for Highland Perthshire, so it is extraordinary that it should be decided to take away one of the two ambulances based in Piltochry. I have continually argued that there should be no reduction through internal channels to the SAS Management, the Highland Perthshire Ambulance Liaison group, our MSP’s and Health Minister, and to no avail. I fear that this reduction will inevitably lead to some delays in attending emergencies, and I hope this decision will spark a fresh campaign by the communities here to reinstate the present cover. I also hope that the public will fully support and assist the SAS Management in lobbying the Government for sufficient funds for the re instatement of our ambulances.”