The woman in charge of Scotland’s ambulance fleet has vowed to bring Moray a new emergency vehicle and two extra paramedics.
The chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), Pauline Howie, visited Elgin yesterday to discuss the region’s cover shortfall with local MSP Richard Lochhead.
She pledged to deploy two specialist paramedics and a new ambulance to the region next year to reduce the strain on “over-stretched” local teams.
Mrs Howie also highlighted a project being piloted at Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital, designed to free up the time of ambulance crews.
She said: “We have been enhancing processes so that ambulance resources are deployed as effectively as possible in the NHS Grampian area.
“For example, we have been piloting the use of a hospital ambulance liaison officer (Halo) at Dr Gray’s.
“That is an SAS officer who works with hospital staff to support a prompt handover of our patients into their care, and frees up our crews to respond to other patients who need help.”
The ambulance boss highlighted an improvement in responses to cardiac arrest calls since the scheme began.
She added: “As part of a multi-million pound investment in staffing, we are investing in two new Specialist Paramedic posts in the Moray area at the beginning of 2017.”
Mr Lochhead claims that Moray’s emergency vehicles are frequently unable to attend 999 calls because they are being used “as taxis” to take patients to hospital appointments.
Following the meeting, the SNP politician welcomed the steps being taken to make the region a safer place.
He added: “There have been some cases where it has taken too long for ambulances to arrive, and it’s clear our local ambulance staff are working flat out.
“I am pleased to hear that two specialist paramedics and new vehicle will be deployed in Moray in the new year with the aim of reducing pressure on the ambulance service.”
But he added that more needed to be done to address the amount of time Moray’s emergency vehicles are spending
Mr Lochhead has invited Ms Howie to return to Elgin early next year, to reflect on how the additional measures were making a difference.
