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| More patients face ambulance wait | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The number of ambulances taking longer than an hour to reach an emergency has more than doubled since 2000, newly released figures have suggested. | The number of ambulances taking longer than an hour to reach an emergency has more than doubled since 2000, newly released figures have suggested. |
| The statistics, obtained by Christine Grahame of the SNP, showed that 189 patients had at least an hour wait in 2005/06, compared with 71 in 2000/01. | The statistics, obtained by Christine Grahame of the SNP, showed that 189 patients had at least an hour wait in 2005/06, compared with 71 in 2000/01. |
| The increase comes despite a large rise in the number of trained crews, the MSP for the South of Scotland said. | The increase comes despite a large rise in the number of trained crews, the MSP for the South of Scotland said. |
| The Scottish Executive said the service saw a 30% rise in calls in that period. | The Scottish Executive said the service saw a 30% rise in calls in that period. |
| Ms Grahame requested the figures after a stroke victim in her constituency reported waiting more than two hours for an emergency ambulance crew to arrive at her home. | |
| The SNP's social justice spokeswoman said: "There is clearly something seriously wrong with the management and operational systems and these figures show the experience endured by my constituents is not unique at all." | The SNP's social justice spokeswoman said: "There is clearly something seriously wrong with the management and operational systems and these figures show the experience endured by my constituents is not unique at all." |
| I suspect that some deaths will have sadly occurred as a result of these delays Christine Grahame MSP | I suspect that some deaths will have sadly occurred as a result of these delays Christine Grahame MSP |
| An executive spokeswoman said: "Ambulance response times in Scotland have improved in the last year - 13,000 more calls were responded to within eight minutes. | An executive spokeswoman said: "Ambulance response times in Scotland have improved in the last year - 13,000 more calls were responded to within eight minutes. |
| "The average response time to category A calls is 8.4 minutes. | "The average response time to category A calls is 8.4 minutes. |
| "The ambulance service is now dealing with roughly 30% more emergency calls than it was in 2002/03 and in order to respond to this, an extra 412 paramedics and technicians have been employed and funding has increased by 50%." | "The ambulance service is now dealing with roughly 30% more emergency calls than it was in 2002/03 and in order to respond to this, an extra 412 paramedics and technicians have been employed and funding has increased by 50%." |
| She said a priority system was introduced in 2003 which divided call-outs into life-threatening and less serious categories. | She said a priority system was introduced in 2003 which divided call-outs into life-threatening and less serious categories. |
| The Scottish Ambulance Service said that since the prioritisation of 999 calls was brought in, people who needed help the most were getting a faster response. | The Scottish Ambulance Service said that since the prioritisation of 999 calls was brought in, people who needed help the most were getting a faster response. |
| Stroke victim Agnes Alexander waited about three hours for help | Stroke victim Agnes Alexander waited about three hours for help |
| Non life-threatening calls would get a response that is "more appropriate to their condition," a spokesman said. | Non life-threatening calls would get a response that is "more appropriate to their condition," a spokesman said. |
| He highlighted the 8.4 minute emergency response time as the fastest it has ever been. | He highlighted the 8.4 minute emergency response time as the fastest it has ever been. |
| Ms Grahame demanded ministers hold an immediate inquiry into why the number of delays were increasing. | Ms Grahame demanded ministers hold an immediate inquiry into why the number of delays were increasing. |
| She said: "This marked rise cannot be explained away by vexatious 999 calls by people who do not require emergency treatment - something far more serious is taking place. | She said: "This marked rise cannot be explained away by vexatious 999 calls by people who do not require emergency treatment - something far more serious is taking place. |
| "I remain of the view that the fault is not with individual crews, but with a management and operational structure which is failing to reach emergencies within what is widely regarded by medical professionals as a crucial first hour. | "I remain of the view that the fault is not with individual crews, but with a management and operational structure which is failing to reach emergencies within what is widely regarded by medical professionals as a crucial first hour. |
| "In many cases it will mean the difference between life and death and I suspect that some deaths will have sadly occurred as a result of these delays." | "In many cases it will mean the difference between life and death and I suspect that some deaths will have sadly occurred as a result of these delays." |