THE Scottish Ambulance Service was yesterday given a month to bring forward plans to end the single-staffing of its emergency ambulances.
Meanwhile, four separate inquiries are to be held into the service, Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, also confirmed.
The inquiries follow accusations of bullying in the services, claims that data on arrival times is not accurate and con
cerns over the redesign of the service and staffing.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The policy of the Scottish Government is clear – traditional accident and emergency ambulances should be double-crewed, with at least one member being a paramedic."
She added that she would not accept ambulance rotas being drawn up based on cost rather than need and confirmed that, as a result, she had intervened to stop a new rota system being set up in the north Highlands.
Last week an investigation was announced into claims of bullying and harassment by two senior figures in the ambulance service.
Kevin Doran, the service's chief executive, and Grace Kelly, its operations director, have taken voluntary leave of absence pending an independent investigation of the claims.
A senior clinician will lead a review of data on arrival times and Harry Burns, Scotland's chief medical officer, will evaluate the new system whereby a rapid-response vehicle with a single paramedic can be sent to call-outs before a traditional ambulance.
The full article contains 234 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
