Ambulance breaks row deal agreed

6 October 2011 Last updated at 16:30 The issue hit headlines when Mandy Mathieson died in October last year An interim agreement has been reached to pay ambulance staff to respond to emergency calls while on a break, the government has confirmed.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs about the deal, which will be in place until talks resume in December.

The death of Moray woman Mandy Mathieson last year brought the row to wider public attention.

An ambulance technician stationed close to her home did not respond to a call because he was on a break.

Unions representing most ambulance staff recently voted to reject a deal to resolve the dispute.

Unions and management have been trying to find a solution to this issue ever since Ms Mathieson, from Tomintoul, died in October last year.

Continue reading the main story

I believe these interim arrangements are in the interests of both patients and staff”

End Quote Nicola Sturgeon Health Secretary Ms Sturgeon told staff that the interim arrangement would mean all applicable staff being required to respond to "Category A' emergency calls and major incidents during rest breaks.

Staff would be compensated with an annual payment of £250, a guaranteed rest break and payment of £100 if the rest break was disturbed.

The arrangements will apply from October 10 and be in place for three-months to allow longer term negotiations to continue.

Ms Sturgeon told parliament: "I believe these interim arrangements are in the interests of both patients and staff.

"These steps allow me to be assured - and allow me to reassure the public - that patient safety is paramount, that the views of the workforce are respected and that the Scottish government and the Scottish Ambulance Service will continue to seek a way forward in partnership."

Ambulance crews' 'busiest night'

1 January 2011 Last updated at 14:52 The service was receiving 800 calls an hour at one point London Ambulance Service (LAS) says New Year's Eve was the busiest night in its history.

Staff in the control room were taking an average of 11 emergency calls every minute between midnight and 0400 GMT.

They answered a total of 2,639 emergency calls - some 800 an hour at the peak.

An LAS spokesman said it had expected a high number of alcohol-related incidents and had to prioritise very ill patients.

On an average night the service takes 180 calls an hour.

Deputy director of operations Jason Killens, who led the service's response on New Year's Eve, said: "Demand in the early hours was extremely high.

"A lot of that extra demand was because of alcohol-related calls and inappropriate use of the service - people shouldn't be calling 999 simply because they're drunk.

"We had to prioritise calls to make sure seriously ill patients got help - that meant more patients than normal with minor illnesses were given advice over the telephone."

The number of 999 calls exceeded the previous record, set on the eve of the year 2000.

Explaining the high number of callouts, an LAS spokesman said: "Everybody was up all night and a lot of people were worse for wear.

"A lot of calls were for someone who had drunk too much and passed out on the street.

"We have to judge every case on its own merit."

A temporary "alcohol recovery centre " was set up in the West End.

So-called "booze buses" then ferried drunken revellers to the centre where they were kept warm until sober enough to make their way home.

LAS is meeting later in the month to begin planning for New Year's Eve 2011.

There were 77 arrests during the night, mostly for public order offences.

Others were held for assault, drug offences and robberies.

There were a number of shootings and stabbings, though none were fatal.

View the original article here