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Fears over air ambulance changes Fears over air ambulance changes
(30 minutes later)
Changes to when Scotland's two air ambulance helicopters can be dispatched will lead to lives being lost, according to a union and an MSP.Changes to when Scotland's two air ambulance helicopters can be dispatched will lead to lives being lost, according to a union and an MSP.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said it wanted to avoid unnecessary missions for its helicopters based in Glasgow and Inverness.The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said it wanted to avoid unnecessary missions for its helicopters based in Glasgow and Inverness.
John Farquhar Munro, a Highlands MSP, said "there's no doubt lives are going to be lost". John Farquhar Munro, a Highlands MSP, said "there's no doubt lives are going to be lost". Unison are also concerned.
SAS said patients would continue to receive an "appropriate response".SAS said patients would continue to receive an "appropriate response".
All missions have to be authorised by the head of the air ambulance service before the helicopter can take off.All missions have to be authorised by the head of the air ambulance service before the helicopter can take off.
A spokesman for the Unison union claimed the new procedures were driven by budgetary constraints.A spokesman for the Unison union claimed the new procedures were driven by budgetary constraints.
The budgetary constraints will be no comfort to someone who dies because the helicopter wasn't sent to them when in normal circumstances it would have been Paramedic Paul JohnstonThe budgetary constraints will be no comfort to someone who dies because the helicopter wasn't sent to them when in normal circumstances it would have been Paramedic Paul Johnston
Mr Farquhar Munro, Liberal Democrat MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, said he had personal experience of the Highlands' dependence on the air ambulance service.Mr Farquhar Munro, Liberal Democrat MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, said he had personal experience of the Highlands' dependence on the air ambulance service.
He said: "There is no doubt lives are going to be lost if they are going to continue with these restrictions."He said: "There is no doubt lives are going to be lost if they are going to continue with these restrictions."
The politician said his wife had to be rushed to hospital a few months ago - before the new rules were introduced - when she suffered a heart attack.The politician said his wife had to be rushed to hospital a few months ago - before the new rules were introduced - when she suffered a heart attack.
He said she was stabilised at Broadford Hospital on the Isle of Skye, but medical staff wanted her transferred to a larger hospital as a matter of urgency and she was taken by ambulance to nearby Ashaig airfield.He said she was stabilised at Broadford Hospital on the Isle of Skye, but medical staff wanted her transferred to a larger hospital as a matter of urgency and she was taken by ambulance to nearby Ashaig airfield.
Mr Farquhar Munro said: "They waited there some time to then be contacted and told that the air ambulance was not able to land at Broadford because there was low cloud and overcast."Mr Farquhar Munro said: "They waited there some time to then be contacted and told that the air ambulance was not able to land at Broadford because there was low cloud and overcast."
He said a fixed wing air ambulance was called for, however, its mission was also aborted because of the weather.He said a fixed wing air ambulance was called for, however, its mission was also aborted because of the weather.
Mr Farquhar Munro, who said the weather at Ashaig had been clear, added that his wife was eventually transferred by road. She survived the ordeal.Mr Farquhar Munro, who said the weather at Ashaig had been clear, added that his wife was eventually transferred by road. She survived the ordeal.
He wrote to SAS for clarification about why an air ambulance was not dispatched, but said he was still awaiting a report the air service had promised to send him.He wrote to SAS for clarification about why an air ambulance was not dispatched, but said he was still awaiting a report the air service had promised to send him.
The MSP is awaiting a report from the air ambulance serviceThe MSP is awaiting a report from the air ambulance service
"People are dependent on these services, especially in the peripheral areas," said the MSP."People are dependent on these services, especially in the peripheral areas," said the MSP.
Inverness paramedic and Unison spokesman, Paul Johnston, said any cost factor should be irrelevant.Inverness paramedic and Unison spokesman, Paul Johnston, said any cost factor should be irrelevant.
He said: "Expensive for who? Not expensive for the people whose lives are at stake - what price can you put on somebody's life?He said: "Expensive for who? Not expensive for the people whose lives are at stake - what price can you put on somebody's life?
"The budgetary constraints will be no comfort to someone who dies because the helicopter wasn't sent to them when in normal circumstances it would have been.""The budgetary constraints will be no comfort to someone who dies because the helicopter wasn't sent to them when in normal circumstances it would have been."
Mr Johnston said the new procedures would cause delays.Mr Johnston said the new procedures would cause delays.
He said before the new procedures the air ambulance would have been there in minutes.He said before the new procedures the air ambulance would have been there in minutes.
"This has happened already where the helicopter was delayed for roughly half an hour.""This has happened already where the helicopter was delayed for roughly half an hour."
Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said paramedics had raised concerns with him and he had written to SAS about the matter.Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said paramedics had raised concerns with him and he had written to SAS about the matter.
He said air ambulances could be crucial in achieving what he called the "golden hour" within which time a patient can be stabilised and taken to the nearest accident and emergency.He said air ambulances could be crucial in achieving what he called the "golden hour" within which time a patient can be stabilised and taken to the nearest accident and emergency.
The new procedures are in place to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted and patients will continue to receive the most appropriate ambulance response for their call SAS spokesmanThe new procedures are in place to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted and patients will continue to receive the most appropriate ambulance response for their call SAS spokesman
The SAS said the new procedures were introduced to reduce the number of instances where helicopters were dispatched unnecessarily when road crews were the most appropriate response.The SAS said the new procedures were introduced to reduce the number of instances where helicopters were dispatched unnecessarily when road crews were the most appropriate response.
A spokesman said: "Since the new procedures were introduced on 30 October, the helicopters have attended almost double the number of emergencies compared to the same period last year.A spokesman said: "Since the new procedures were introduced on 30 October, the helicopters have attended almost double the number of emergencies compared to the same period last year.
"This is in addition to the many planned non-emergency hospital transfers that the aircraft undertake on a day-to-day basis."This is in addition to the many planned non-emergency hospital transfers that the aircraft undertake on a day-to-day basis.
"The new procedures are in place to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted and patients will continue to receive the most appropriate ambulance response for their call - if that is a helicopter then that is what they will get.""The new procedures are in place to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted and patients will continue to receive the most appropriate ambulance response for their call - if that is a helicopter then that is what they will get."