Scottish Labour's investigation reveals thousands of ambulance shifts were staffed by only one person last year, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of both staff and patients.
The SNP Government has been warned that ambulances are \u201crunning on empty\u201d after figures showed thousands of shifts were covered by just one crew member last year. A freedom of information request by Scottish Labour found nearly seven staff a day had to crew a shift themselves on average. The party said the practice has continued despite the SNP having previously vowed to crack down on it.
In 2008, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – who was health secretary at the time – asked the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to ban emergency responders from attending incidents on their own. The Scottish Government said single-crewed ambulance shifts are not routine and only account for a small percentage of all shifts. But from 2019 to 2023, more than 13,565 single-crew ambulance shifts were recorded. Scottish Labour said the practice is putting \u201cunbearable pressure\u201d on staff. Dame Jackie Baillie, the party’s health spokeswoman, said: “A decade-and-a-half after the SNP promised to eradicate single-crew ambulance shifts, it seems they are still happening on a daily basis. “Ambulance crew members work very hard but asking them to attend life or death situations on their own places unbearable pressure on staff. “Ambulances are running on empty – Scotland needs a change of direction, starting with our NHS. “The SNP must ensure the UK Labour Budget dividend is directed to frontline NHS staff.” A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ambulances are not routinely singled-crewed, this only happens in exceptional circumstances such as short notice staff absences or a significant increase in demand. “We continue to support the service to reduce instances of single crewing. “Our continued increased investment has seen 1,388 staff join SAS, with over 230 joining in 2023/24, and further recruitment under way this yea
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