Two Tier Service
The Scottish ambulance driver from Tomintoul who insisted on having his 30 minute break - instead of responding to an emergency call only 800 yards from his depot - should hang his head in shame.
So should the managers of the Scottish Ambulance Service and trade unions - who negotiated an agreement that effectively puts people's lives at risk.
Because the Tomintoul ambulance person insisted on having his break - another crew from Granton on Spey was dispatched - which took 21 minutes to reach a 33 year woman - who was dying from a suspected heart attack.
Apparently, a management/union agreement states that ambulance crews are entitled - absolutely - to an undisturbed 30 minute break.
But staff can choose to opt out of the arrangement - in return for an annual payment of £250 plus a payment of around £5 - for every time they have to respond to an emergency - during one of their scheduled breaks.
Now this seems completely crazy to me - what has money got to do with an emergency response?
How can life and death situations be left for different individuals - sometimes working in pairs - to decide for themselves - whether or not to respond to an emergency call?
The ambulance worker involved will apparently be required to undergo further training before returning to his post - but in truth he should be reflecting on whether he's in the right line of work.
Meantime the Scottish Ambulance Service should scrap any absolute entitlement to an undisturbed 30 minute break - with union support - because it would end the currently lottery of what amounts to a 'two tier' emergency service.
So should the managers of the Scottish Ambulance Service and trade unions - who negotiated an agreement that effectively puts people's lives at risk.
Because the Tomintoul ambulance person insisted on having his break - another crew from Granton on Spey was dispatched - which took 21 minutes to reach a 33 year woman - who was dying from a suspected heart attack.
Apparently, a management/union agreement states that ambulance crews are entitled - absolutely - to an undisturbed 30 minute break.
But staff can choose to opt out of the arrangement - in return for an annual payment of £250 plus a payment of around £5 - for every time they have to respond to an emergency - during one of their scheduled breaks.
Now this seems completely crazy to me - what has money got to do with an emergency response?
How can life and death situations be left for different individuals - sometimes working in pairs - to decide for themselves - whether or not to respond to an emergency call?
The ambulance worker involved will apparently be required to undergo further training before returning to his post - but in truth he should be reflecting on whether he's in the right line of work.
Meantime the Scottish Ambulance Service should scrap any absolute entitlement to an undisturbed 30 minute break - with union support - because it would end the currently lottery of what amounts to a 'two tier' emergency service.
