emergency services – Page 10 – The NEN

False Alarms Consultation: Firefighters respond to 30,000 workplace false alarms each year

Around 64,000 hours of firefighters’ time is needlessly spent each year checking out false alarms from workplaces, figures from the latest Scottish Fire and Rescue Service consultation show.

The Service mobilises on average two fire appliances and nine firefighters to each of the 28,479 false alarms – equating to around 57,000 unnecessary blue light journeys annually.

Most alarms are activated by faults or other causes like steam or burnt food with only two per cent actually involving a fire, most of which are put out before the arrival of crews.

The information has been shared by the national Service as part of its consultation on how to safely reduce call outs to false alarms, known as Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS).

Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens says businesses and partners can play a key role in reducing the figures and called on them to get involved in the consultation.

“The advantages of getting duty holders to accept their legal responsibilities and reducing these callouts are clear” said ACO Stevens, “Making this change means we can free up firefighters’ time, be even more responsive in genuine emergencies and use SFRS resources more effectively.

“We can also carry out more training and fire prevention activity, as well as realising the related benefits of improving road safety and reducing our carbon impact. These unnecessary blue light journeys bring risks to our crews, other road users and pedestrians as well as impacting the environment with an estimated 575 tonnes of carbon emissions produced – the equivalent of heating 230 homes a year.

“Businesses will also experience less disruption as they no longer need to wait for us to attend to give the all clear after a false alarm.”

The twelve-week consultation – which seeks views on three proposed options – is underway and while early analysis is encouraging with many members of the public taking part it also indicates a low response rate from the businesses and workplaces that are potentially most affected by the proposed changes.

Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens added: “It may be that these businesses and organisations are taking their time to fully consider the proposed options and I’m also aware last month we were just coming out of a holiday period which is why we’re issuing this appeal for those most affected to take part in the consultation and play their part in helping to shape the future response model.”

The consultation brings the SFRS into line with the majority of UK fire and rescue services response to workplace automatic fire alarms (AFAs) explained Assistant Chief Officer Stevens: “The legal responsibility for dealing with an AFA alert lies with the duty holder of a property and most UK fire and rescue services now seek confirmation of a fire before attending. It’s now time for the SFRS make this change too.”

ACO Stevens added: “Each of the options, which have all been risk assessed, will see a significant reduction in the number of UFAS calls we attend. We want to know what those most affected think of our three proposed options I urge them to have their say on how they think we can best use our resources to keep them, their families and their communities even safer.”

The consultation document ‘Time for Change: Reducing Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals’ (UFAS) and survey can be accessed online at /consultations/ufas-consultation.aspx until Monday, October 11.

A report based on analysis of the consultation responses – including a preferred option – will be considered by the SFRS Board in December 2021. Any changes to service delivery will be implemented in a carefully managed process and in partnership with directly affected stakeholders.

Platinum Jubilee Medal revealed

Culture Secretary unveils design of medal for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Design features portrait of Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Crest
Medal will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces with five years service as part of four-day commemorations taking place next year

The design of the medal awarded to a number of front line emergency workers to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year has been unveiled.

The medal, which has been designed by Timothy Noad of the College of Arms, will be awarded to individual George and Victoria Cross recipients and serving members of the Armed Forces and emergency services, among others, and acts as a token of the nation’s thanks to those who diligently serve the public.

The medal, which is made of nickel silver, features an image of The Queen with the Latin inscription ‘Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fid Def’ which stands for ‘Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith’.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the dedication and service of those who, like the Queen, tirelessly serve our country.

From the troops who serve overseas to the emergency services workers at home who run towards danger when others would flee, we are honoured to have such dedicated and professional public servants who keep us safe.

“2022 is an opportunity for us to come together as a nation to celebrate and say thank you to Her Majesty and all those who work so hard to make Britain Great.”

The history of awarding medals to mark Royal Jubilee’s dates back to the Victorian period when the first medal was awarded to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign.

Those who will receive the medal for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are:

Serving members of the Armed Forces that have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2022.
Frontline emergency services personnel that have been in paid service, retained or in a voluntary capacity, dealing with emergencies as part of their conditions of service, and have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2022.
Prison services personnel who are publicly employed and are regularly exposed to difficult and sometimes emergency situations that have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2022.
Members of the Royal Household with one year of qualifying service.
Living individual recipients of the George Cross.
Living individual recipients of the Victoria Cross.

2022 will be a blockbuster year of celebrations with plans to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a four-day Bank Holiday weekend from 2 – 5 June which includes Trooping the Colour, the lighting of beacons, a Service of Thanksgiving, a concert, Platinum Pageant and nation-wide street parties.

As well as celebrating 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign, Britain will host the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the Festival 2022, which will celebrate the cross collaboration of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths sectors.

The government has also launched its Platinum Jubilee website which includes an interactive map for people and organisations to contribute to and search for information on events and activities taking place near to them.

Staffing boost for local Ambulance Service with 88 new frontline staff

The Scottish Ambulance Service is boosting its resources in the East of Scotland as part of its Demand and Capacity Programme.

An extra 88 frontline staff – a mixture of paramedics, newly qualified paramedics (NQPs) and technicians – will be located across the East region and are due be in place by April 2022.

Extra ambulances and vehicles will also be introduced over the coming months, including two in Edinburgh.

This is in addition to 139 staff in the West and 69 in the North.

The Demand and Capacity programme, which is supported by a £20m investment from the Scottish Government, aims to better align resources to meet current and projected patient demand.

Kenny Freeburn, East Regional Director, Scottish Ambulance Service said: “This funding is great news for the Service and is allowing us to continue to increase our investment in new frontline staff, new ambulances and new vehicles at pace.

“These new resources will ensure we continue to deliver the very best patient care by boosting capacity and increasing our resilience in communities across Scotland. They’ll also complement our dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months in extremely demanding circumstances.”

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our ambulance staff have been at the heart of the response to the Coronavirus pandemic and we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their courage, commitment and professionalism.

“These additional resources show that this Government is determined to ensure they have the support needed to meet patient demand as the NHS continues to remobilise.

“Our recent recovery plan targeted over £1 billion of investment over the next five years across the whole health system to increase capacity and ensure the health service is ready for the challenges ahead.”

Almost 300 extra ambulance staff being recruited

Almost 300 additional ambulance service staff are being recruited through a £20 million Scottish Government funding injection made over last year and this year as the NHS continues to remobilise.

The latest recruitment tranche unveiled today will see dozens of paramedics, technicians, patient transport staff and advanced professionals taken on in the North and North-east of Scotland.

Additional ambulances and low acuity resources will also be introduced as part of the new resources to help meet current and projected patient needs through the Demand and Capacity programme.

A total of 296 additional ambulance service staff are being recruited as a result of investment over the past two years.

The Scottish Government has allocated £20 million as part of the £1 billion NHS recovery plan published last week. This resource will be directed to those areas of Scotland most under pressure including northern parts of the country.

Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service Pauline Howie said: “This funding is great news for the Service and is allowing us to continue to increase our investment in new frontline staff, new ambulances and new vehicles at pace.

“The reduction in on-call working will also improve the work/life balance of staff in the north of Scotland, as well as providing increased cover for the respective areas. Additional stations where on-call working will also be eliminated or reduced are currently being identified.”

“These additional resources show that this Government is determined to ensure they have the support needed to meet patient demand as the NHS continues to remobilise.

“Investment in support for staff and their wellbeing will be an essential and vital component of our recovery and the reduction of on-call working for ambulance staff will help with this.”

Mobile Testing Units deliver one million tests in one year

Scottish Ambulance Service Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) teams have delivered more than one million tests in just over a year.

The MTUs have been one of biggest projects ever carried out at the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).

There are now 39 MTU teams across the country and more than 1100 people employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service, providing a vital service to Scotland.

The MTUS can be dispatched quickly across the country so people in urban, rural and remote areas have easy access to a coronavirus test. The location of the units, planned by National Services Scotland and local resilience partnerships, changes regularly to reflect demand.

John Alexander, General Manager for the Mobile Testing Units (MTUs), said: “The introduction of MTUs has played an important role in the country’s fight against Covid-19, helping to control the spread of the virus.

“All of our MTU staff have done a fantastic job in providing tests to the people of Scotland over the past year and I’m extremely proud they’ve delivered more than one million tests since last September.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf said: “Reaching one million tests is a major milestone and recognition of the hard work and dedication of Scottish Ambulance Service. My heartfelt thanks go to SAS staff for what they do every single day to care for, and support people across Scotland.

“Our COVID-19 Mobile Testing Units have played a crucial role in bringing testing resources to the communities who need it most. By identifying and isolating cases, we are breaking chains of transmission within those communities and giving us a better chance of stopping the virus from spreading.”

Letting Agent to Support the NHS, 999 Staff and the Armed Forces

At the height of the pandemic the UK would come together at 8pm on a Thursday evening to clap for the NHS. Many asked if there were more tangible ways that the country could thank these frontline heroes – and in response Edinburgh’s leading Letting Agent Clan Gordon is launching a free Letting Package for key workers, including all NHS and 999 staff and the Armed Forces.

The past year has seen the world as we know it shift to an almost unrecognisable extent, with the NHS, Armed Forces and 999 staff at the forefront of keeping people safe.

As a thank you to those who went above and beyond during the pandemic Edinburgh based Letting Agent Clan Gordon is offering all NHS and 999 staff and those serving in the Armed Forces, the opportunity to put a property on the Edinburgh rental market completely free of charge.

Jonathan Gordon, Managing Director, Clan Gordon, said: “Everyone has been affected by Covid-19 in some way and we recognise the huge part that front line workers played during the pandemic.

“With the latest news that the Government’s 3% pay rise for nursing staff is way short of what was expected after the overwhelming demands of the pandemic, we wanted to offer something to support those who went above and beyond.

“To say thank you to these heroes we want to help them to make letting their property as accessible and easy as possible and are very proud to launch this new Letting Package. The exclusive package will enable front line workers from the NHS, those supporting 999 calls and the Armed Forces to put a property onto the rental market with the support of our professional property managers, at no cost.”

The new Letting Package will enable NHS and 999 staff and the Armed Forces to let their property via the Clan Gordon ARLA regulated agency, free of charge. The offer includes all marketing fees, set up costs, a virtual tour, and photographs, saving £210.

To find out more about the Letting Package schedule a call by visiting www.clangordon.co.uk

Man pays thanks ambulance crew after horror mountain bike crash

A man has passed on his heartfelt thanks to the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) emergency responders, including who attended to him after a horror mountain bike accident which left him with five broken ribs.

David Turpin, of Gateshead, was visiting Scotland and out cycling on the Glentress Mountain Bike Trail, near Peebles, on August 13 when he came off his bike.

Immediately after the accident, the 47-year-old could not move. He ended up breaking five ribs and also punctured his lung.

He spent five days in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before returning south of the border, where he continues his recovery.

The 47-year-old wanted to thank Rhona Clement and Mary Griffin, both technicians at Penicuik Ambulance Station, alongside our Helimed ambulance.

David, who was transported to hospital via the Penicuik crew, said: “I want to pass on my heartfelt thanks to the SAS staff for rescuing me. I had come off my mountain bike, damaging my back and could not move.

“I broke five ribs, one of them in three places and displaced them. I also have a punctured lung. I spent five days in hospital in lots of pain but I am now back in Gateshead at home recovering.

“If it had not been for the Scottish Ambulance Service, and the many kind members of the public, I do not know what I would have done.

“I possibly would have tried to move and caused further damage. The service and all staff are fantastic and so reassuring. I also apologise for swearing in the ambulance!

“Thank you so much for everything. There are so many people to thank and it is difficult to know where to start.”

Large Fire on George IV Bridge: please avoid the area

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at a large #fire on George IV Bridge. More than 60 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in the city centre.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 6.18am this morning (Tuesday, 24 August) to reports of a building on fire at George IV Bridge.

Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and two height vehicles to the area where the fire was found to be affecting a number of properties. A further three appliances were mobilised.

Crews remain on the scene and are expected to do so for some time as they work to make the area safe.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer David Farries is the Incident Commander. He said: “This is undoubtedly a complex and challenging incident.

“I would like to thank our crews as they work to extinguish the fire. I would also like to thank our emergency services colleagues and local authority partners.

“We will remain in attendance for a considerable time yet as we work to contain the fire.”

DACO Farries continued: “We continue to ask people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.

“Road closures remain in place and we advise people to avoid the area and to allow access for emergency service vehicles.”

Nearby residents advised to keep windows & doors closed and road closures remain in place.

See @EdinPolSE & @edintravel for traffic advice and please avoid the area #edintravel

First Minister announces changes to self-isolation rules in Scotland

‘It is essential that lifeline services and critical national infrastructure are maintained‘ – FM NICOLA STURGEON

Changes are being made to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID cases to allow essential staff in critical roles to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure.

It will be possible to apply to exempt those who work in critical roles where staff shortages are in danger of putting essential services, such as health and social care, transport and the provision of food supplies at risk.

Exemption will only be granted in respect of members of staff who voluntarily agree not to self isolate, and the employers’ duty of care to all their employees must be respected.

Strict conditions will apply – staff must be double-vaccinated and in receipt of their second dose at least two weeks previously. They will also require to have a negative PCR test and to agree to undertake daily lateral flow tests.

Applications may be made via the Scottish Government website.

Exemptions will be made on a temporary basis and last only for as long as there is an immediate risk to business or service continuity.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is essential that lifeline services and critical national infrastructure are maintained and we are implementing these changes now – ahead of possible changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts that may apply more generally in future – to ensure staff shortages do not put key services at risk.

“We have seen significant staff shortages in a small number of organisations in recent days and we have worked with them to protect services. Applications for exemptions are being considered from today and we will consider applications as they come in.

“Clinical evidence tells us we can safely and effectively release some critical staff from self-isolation, with appropriate safeguards. However, this is a very limited change at this stage, to be applied on a case by case basis and only where absolutely necessary.

“We will not allow key services to be threatened by staff shortages but equally we must continue to protect public health.”

GMB Scotland: THINK AGAIN!

Responding to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement , GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour said: “The decision taken by the Scottish Government to introduce exemptions for critical workers from self-isolation guidance has been driven by resource, not by what’s safe for the workers or their families.

“It’s not frontline workers following COVID precautions that threatens to put key services at risk, but the cuts, underfunding and understaffing of these services that means we don’t have the capacity we need to respond in times of crisis.

“Whether it’s in the NHS, our social care sector or in our supermarkets, the story is the same: it’s low paid, exhausted and predominantly women workers who have to make sacrifices as a result of the failure of those at the top to plan and invest.

“GMB is urging the Scottish Government to rethink their decision to gamble with the lives of our key workers, before it’s too late.”

GMB Scotland press for proper employment status for 2,800 HM Coastguard rescue workers

GMB Scotland is pressing for proper employment status for more than 2,800 HM Coastguard rescue workers based at 310 rescue stations around the UK. About 900 of these workers are based in 116 rescue stations around the coast of mainland Scotland and the Islands.

The duties of HM Coastguard rescue workers include help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water, search for missing people, report and deal with pollution and other hazards and help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding.

These HM Coastguard rescue workers can be called out at any time of the day or night so they work irregular hours. They may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours and may have to carry out physically demanding tasks.

HM Coastguard rescue worker can have other employment. Required skills include: first aid, water rescue, map work, search techniques, communications and skills needed in for local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue etc.

GMB Scotland is demanding that their status as workers is properly recognised and the work they do is properly valued and recognised.

Like for other recent high profile workers in irregular employment across the UK the union is prepared to litigate to obtain justice for these brave men and women.

Numbers of HM Coastguard rescue workers on irregular hours by Areas across the UK

Area 1 Scotland & Orkney Islands	137
Area 2 North Scotland	126
Area 3 East Scotland	97
Area 4 Inner Clyde to River Tay and East Scottish Border	134
Area 5 North East England	122
Area 6 East of England (Yorkshire, Humberside & Lincolnshire)	134
Area 7 East Anglia	155
Area 8 South East England	152
Area 9 : Southern England including Isle of Wight	202
Area 10 : South West England	175
Area 11 : Cornwall including Isles of Scilly	162
Area 12 : North Devon including Severn Estuary	176
Area 13 : South East Wales to Mid-Wales	203
Area 14 : North West Wales	162
Area 15 : Great Orme to West Scottish Border including the Lakes	152
Area 16 : Solway to Firth of Clyde including Northern Ireland	190
Area 17 : Kintyre to Mull, Isle of Arran and Inner Hebrides	159
Area 18 : Loch Linnhe to Outer Hebrides including Skye & the Small Isles	160

Gary Smith, GMB Scotland Secretary, said: “These 2,800 brave men and women who work in all weathers to rescue people and save lives are denied even the most basic rights of respect and recognition by their employer HM Coastguard.

“Staff with over 30 years experience are being axed without the basic right of being represented by their Union. The HM Coastguard rescue workers risk their lives to help and save others but are treated worse than any other Government worker. Urgent action needs to be taken to show respect for these unsung heroes.

“The union is prepared to litigate for these workers, so they can be properly recognised as part of the HM Coastguard rescue workforce and to ensure their basic employment rights are respected.”