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| First aiders help response times | First aiders help response times |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| When you dial 999 for an ambulance are you absolutely clear on who will walk through your door? | When you dial 999 for an ambulance are you absolutely clear on who will walk through your door? |
| It could be an ambulance crew or one of a growing number of 'First Responders' - community volunteers trained in basic first aid. | It could be an ambulance crew or one of a growing number of 'First Responders' - community volunteers trained in basic first aid. |
| First Responders will help you until an ambulance arrives but as BBC Scotland's Health Correspondent Eleanor Bradford found out, doctors and paramedics want tighter controls on their use. | First Responders will help you until an ambulance arrives but as BBC Scotland's Health Correspondent Eleanor Bradford found out, doctors and paramedics want tighter controls on their use. |
| Ambulances must get to 75% of urgent "'category A" calls within eight minutes | Ambulances must get to 75% of urgent "'category A" calls within eight minutes |
| First Responder schemes have been particularly promoted in rural areas where an ambulance may be a long way away, and a local resident can give first aid until it arrives. | First Responder schemes have been particularly promoted in rural areas where an ambulance may be a long way away, and a local resident can give first aid until it arrives. |
| However a BBC Radio Scotland documentary, has revealed the arrival of a First Responder counts towards official ambulance response times. | However a BBC Radio Scotland documentary, has revealed the arrival of a First Responder counts towards official ambulance response times. |
| First started in 1998, volunteers are trained in the use of a defibrillator, oxygen, and first aid but are not allowed to give drugs or attend certain incidents, such as those involving children. | First started in 1998, volunteers are trained in the use of a defibrillator, oxygen, and first aid but are not allowed to give drugs or attend certain incidents, such as those involving children. |
| There are already 60 schemes in Scotland and they are seeking to recruit more volunteers. | There are already 60 schemes in Scotland and they are seeking to recruit more volunteers. |
| Doctors' leaders and ambulance representatives say while they support the idea of "First Responders" they should not be allowed to "stop the clock" and help meet government targets. | |
| The Scottish Ambulance Service has to get to 75% of urgent "category A" calls within eight minutes in order to meet government targets. | The Scottish Ambulance Service has to get to 75% of urgent "category A" calls within eight minutes in order to meet government targets. |
| It met this target for 2008/9, but in rural areas many people faced longer waits because the nearest ambulance was many miles away. | It met this target for 2008/9, but in rural areas many people faced longer waits because the nearest ambulance was many miles away. |
| Rural waits | Rural waits |
| In Wales, concerns have already been raised about misuse of First Responder schemes. | In Wales, concerns have already been raised about misuse of First Responder schemes. |
| Welsh paramedic and branch secretary for the Unite union, Bleddyn Roberts said, "I think they shouldn't be part of the ambulance figures. It tends to give a false impression." | Welsh paramedic and branch secretary for the Unite union, Bleddyn Roberts said, "I think they shouldn't be part of the ambulance figures. It tends to give a false impression." |
| He is also concerned First Responders have been sent to incidents they have not been trained for. | He is also concerned First Responders have been sent to incidents they have not been trained for. |
| He added: "We do know that some have been sent to road traffic accidents, for example." | He added: "We do know that some have been sent to road traffic accidents, for example." |
| In the village of Kinloch Rannoch in Perthshire some residents are fighting proposals to introduce First Responders. | In the village of Kinloch Rannoch in Perthshire some residents are fighting proposals to introduce First Responders. |
| They lost GP cover out-of-hours when their local doctor retired and the local health board is proposing First Responders along with on-call doctors based in Pitlochry, 20 miles away. | They lost GP cover out-of-hours when their local doctor retired and the local health board is proposing First Responders along with on-call doctors based in Pitlochry, 20 miles away. |
| There are already 60 First Responder schemes in Scotland | There are already 60 First Responder schemes in Scotland |
| "A doctor is really needed in a remote and rural community like this," said Veronica Grosset, a retired midwife and local resident. | "A doctor is really needed in a remote and rural community like this," said Veronica Grosset, a retired midwife and local resident. |
| "By the time a First Responder comes out, then an ambulance comes out, it could be a considerably long time before someone gets anywhere near a hospital. | "By the time a First Responder comes out, then an ambulance comes out, it could be a considerably long time before someone gets anywhere near a hospital. |
| "We're concerned that lives will be lost if we go down that line." | "We're concerned that lives will be lost if we go down that line." |
| The Scottish Ambulance Service said First Responders currently contribute to 0.5% of 999 calls, and stressed that an ambulance is always requested at the same time as a First Responder. | The Scottish Ambulance Service said First Responders currently contribute to 0.5% of 999 calls, and stressed that an ambulance is always requested at the same time as a First Responder. |
| First Responders say they are not just providing a service to meet targets. | First Responders say they are not just providing a service to meet targets. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| First aiders help response times | First aiders help response times |
| Kevin Walker, a First Responder based in Leuchars in Fife, said: "Having attended six or seven cardiac arrests where we've had to breathe for somebody for 20 minutes waiting for a crew, I'd have to argue that they would have been dead if I hadn't been there." | Kevin Walker, a First Responder based in Leuchars in Fife, said: "Having attended six or seven cardiac arrests where we've had to breathe for somebody for 20 minutes waiting for a crew, I'd have to argue that they would have been dead if I hadn't been there." |
| His colleague Niki Harrison added: "If you've got two ambulances tied up doing a transfer of a seriously injured patient, that could take 40 minutes, through no fault of their own. | His colleague Niki Harrison added: "If you've got two ambulances tied up doing a transfer of a seriously injured patient, that could take 40 minutes, through no fault of their own. |
| "If we can be near the scene of an accident then that's all good". | "If we can be near the scene of an accident then that's all good". |
| The Investigation: First Responders is on BBC Radio Scotland at 0900 BST, Monday 20 April, and at 2300 BST on Newsnight Scotland on BBC One Scotland. | The Investigation: First Responders is on BBC Radio Scotland at 0900 BST, Monday 20 April, and at 2300 BST on Newsnight Scotland on BBC One Scotland. |