SNP Cuts Threaten Ambulance Services in Paisley North

Local Labour MSP Wendy Alexander says pressure from the SNP governement on the ambulance service to meet effieciency targets is threatening emergency ambulance provision in Paisley North.

The Paisley North MSP raised the concerns following reports that the ambulance service is failing to ensure emergency frontline shifts are covered by paramedics – sparking fears that emergency cover across Paisley North is inadequate.

Reports also suggest that ambulance staff are being offered overtime shifts covering special events like the X Factor or football matches while frontline shifts go uncovered.

Speaking about the issue, Wendy Alexander MSP said:

“I am deeply concerned at reports that ambulance cover in Paisley North is inadequately covered by paramedics.

“Our ambulance service is essential to ensure public safety. It is vital that every core ambulance shift is covered across Paisley North. Paramedics must not be diverted from frontline duties to ensure events like the X Factor and football matches are covered. 

The MSP continued:

“The SNP are putting pressure on the ambulance service to deliver efficiency savings. Labour in Holyrood is demanding that the SNP intervene to abandon their demands for cuts and immediately meets with representatives of the ambulance staffs and their management to sort out this mess. We need an assurance that emergency lifeline ambulance services to Scottish patients are not put at risk by SNP demands for more and more efficiency savings.

“The SNP are already planning to spend considerably less on improving healthcare in Scotland than is the case in England and Wales. Heaping more cuts on top of lower spending will only increase the pressure on the Scottish Ambulance Service to breaking point.”