Listen
Single-crew ambulances to end
17/09/2008
The Scottish Ambulance Service is to receive an additional £4.7 million to ensure it can eliminate the practice of rostered single-crewing of traditional ambulances.
The cash, announced by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in a statement to the Scottish Parliament today, will enable the ambulance service to implement an agreed action plan.
The plan will see an extra 40 frontline staff recruited and trained in the ambulance service's north and south-west divisions.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Earlier this year I made clear that the ambulance service had to take action to end the practice of rostered single crewing.
"The ambulance service has now delivered an action plan which sets out how this will be achieved. Our additional funding will significantly increase the level of relief capacity available, eliminating the need for single crews in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
"We have taken swift action to deal with the concerns raised about the ambulance service. I hope that the public will be reassured about the quality of service they will receive if they need an ambulance - regardless of what part of Scotland they live in."
In a debate in the Scottish Parliament on May 22, Ms Sturgeon undertook to investigate a number of concerns raised which she did in a parliamentary statement on June 4. At the time, Ms Sturgeon gave a commitment to further update parliament after the summer recess.
The SAS will receive an additional £1.7 million in the current financial year, with a further £1.5 million in each of the following two years, to implement the action plan. By 2011-12, the service will ensure these costs are budgeted for from within their budget.