emergency services – Page 10 – The NEN

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.”

Ambulance staff to share base with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

AMBULANCE service staff based in Linlithgow have relocated to Bo’ness Fire Station in a move which will benefit patients in the area.

A total of 11 Accident and Emergency staff, along with two A and E vehicles, will be housed at the fire station on Linlithgow Road from 30^th November onwards.

Linlithgow Ambulance Station staff have been based at St Michael’s Hospital since 1991, and the move has been earmarked for two years, receiving funding in 2019.

The new base at Bo’ness provides modern and improved facilities for the staff, who responded to more than 6,400 emergencies in the past year.

Clair Wright, Area Service Manager West Lothian, said: “We are delighted to have moved to this new base alongside our emergency services colleagues at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and look forward to working with them and building on existing relationships.

“There is now an aspect of multi-agency working and training that can take place between both services, improving patient care. This move ensures that we continue to provide the very best care to patients in these communities, as well as being a great new base for our staff.”

David Sharp, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Local Senior Officer for Falkirk and West Lothian, is pleased to welcome Scottish Ambulance Service to the site. He said: “Sharing Bo’ness Fire Station facilities will enhance our ongoing partnership and enable us to plan, prepare and respond to emergencies in local communities.

“This is a positive step, which has been replicated in other parts of Scotland, and improves awareness of each other’s capabilities as we work jointly to protect the public by providing the highest quality of response to those that require our assistance.”

SFRS and SAS closely collaborated to ensure that the appropriate steps were taken prior to the move regarding COVID government guidelines, social distancing and infection control procedures.

Operation Moonbeam: Enquiries ongoing following Bonfire Night incidents

Investigations are under way following a number of serious incidents across Scotland on Bonfire Night.

Police officers and firefighters were attacked with fireworks and other objects being thrown at them. On other occasions, groups caused damage to cars and properties.

In Edinburgh police received reports of anti-social behaviour in Pennywell Place. Officers attended and a 16-year-old male youth was arrested and is subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

In Hay Avenue, officers had to deal with a large group of youths throwing fireworks and bricks at them. A police vehicle was also damaged in this incident. Officers also attended Arthur’s Seat where groups of youths had gathered with fireworks and a bonfire was alight.

In Glasgow, officers came under attack in Dale Street with youths throwing fireworks at them. In Glenisla Street, a police officer was struck on the head with a firework. He was treated at the scene and continued his shift.

In Kendoon Avenue, police received a report of a vehicle on fire. Officers attended and the police car’s windscreen was smashed, resulting in an officer washing glass from his eye. He continued on duty and one man was arrested.

In Auchmead Road, Greenock, an unauthorised bonfire event resulted in firefighters and officers being attacked as youths threw fireworks and bottles. Public order officers were deployed to deal with the incident. A 15-year old male youth was arrested and charged. He is subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: “As the Chief Constable has said, it is disgraceful and deplorable when officers and staff are subjected to violence during the course of their duties.

“Across the country, the overwhelming majority of the public enjoyed Bonfire Night safely and responsibly and I want to thank them for heeding our advice. However, I am disappointed at the level of disorder and anti-social behaviour seen last night. A minority of people’s behaviour has once again put lives at risk. It also places intense pressure on the emergency services and impacts severely on local communities.

“The evening of Thursday, 5 November, 2020, saw a number of serious incidents arising throughout Scotland that required Operation Moonbeam resources to support local policing colleagues.

“The majority of these incidents involved young people. To be absolutely clear, such actions are dangerous and cause harm to the public and emergency service workers.

“We will not tolerate such acts and you may not have been arrested last night but rest assured, officers are carrying out follow-up investigations to identify those involved and responsible. Additional officers will continue to be deployed over the coming days to support local divisions.”

Dispersal Zones remain in place until midnight tonight.