Assynt Community Council agrees to flag up ambulance single-manning concern with Scottish Ambulance Service
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Concern has been expressed over undermanning on a north-west Sutherland ambulance.
Assynt community councillors heard at their meeting at the end of last month that members of the public had raised concerns about the number of occasions recently when local ambulances were single-crewed.
The Scottish Government’s policy is that traditional accident and emergency ambulances should be double-crewed, with at least one member being a paramedic, unless in exceptional circumstances.
Single-crewed ambulances pose a risk to patient wellbeing, leaving patients in the back of the ambulance without assistance while the lone crew member drives.
Assynt Community Council heard that the single-manning had occurred because of the “long-term” absence on sick leave of a crew member.
Community council chairman Liam Taylor said: “This is concerning. People have mentioned it and people are unhappy.
“Is there anything we can do about this? Should we be having a discussion with the ambulance service about this?”
The meeting agreed that Mr Taylor should pass on the community council’s concerns to the Scottish Ambulance Service and request a response.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson told the Northern Times: "We have an ambulance based in Lochinver that is available to respond to calls in this area. We’re also able to deploy other ambulance resources including road ambulances and air ambulances where this is required, depending on the nature of the incident and the condition of the patient.
“Every effort is made to double crew ambulances through rostered and relief staff, overtime and bank staff. Where an ambulance is single-crewed, it is able to respond to calls and be backed up where this is required for patient conveyance to hospital. "
