Ambulance shift changes create jobs

Changes to ambulance staff working hours will result in the creation of 150 new jobs in the Scottish service, the Health Secretary has told MSPs.

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that a deal has been struck with Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) workers to resolve the issue of rest breaks.

Up until now, ambulance crews took unpaid rest breaks, during which the control room did not contact them.

But recent controversies - such as the death of Mandy Mathieson, 33, who had a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, in 2010 - brought the policy into focus.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that a
new staffing deal has been struck with ambulance crews

An ambulance technician was on a meal break and did not attend the emergency even though he was stationed near her home.

Ms Sturgeon outlined details of the new deal, agreed by SAS management and trade unions earlier this week, when she delivered a statement to MSPs in Holyrood today.

She said: "I am pleased to say that a long term solution - that protects patient safety and also supports ambulance service staff - has been agreed."

However, Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie raised concerns that the deal may still have implications for patient safety, and called for an "urgent independent review" of the way emergency ambulance calls are categorised.

Under the new plans, staff will move to a 37.5-hour paid week inclusive of rest periods, and will be required to attend emergency calls throughout their shift period.

Previously staff were rostered for 40 hours per week, paid for 37.5 hours and entitled to 2.5 hours of unpaid rest periods. Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would invest £5 million in providing 150 front-line jobs to support the changes.