"Grave concerns" over plans to cut ambulance cover in Renfrewshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

There are “grave concerns” over planned cuts to ambulance provision in Renfrewshire.Ambulance chiefs are set to drop one crew from overnight cover in the area on from Sunday to Friday and the plan has left workers “incensed”, claims one insider.Three crews available at Paisley’s ambulance base will be cut to two between 10pm and 6am Monday to Friday from April.There are currently three crews based in Paisley and operational between 7pm and 7am.Three-strong provision will remain on Saturday night shifts.It comes in the wake of a Demand and Capacity Review carried out by a private contractor on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service.Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here.Documentation seen by the Express plans for some cuts to provision at ambulance stations including Paisley and outlying depots in the Vale of Leven and Greenock.The move has been slammed by disgruntled workers, one of whom told us: “Paisley currently have three ambulance crews at night.

The SAS are reducing this to two ambulances at night and increasing cover during the day.“A cardiac arrest is responded to by two ambulance crews, a road traffic collision is normally attended by two crews plus obese patients, difficult extractions etc often require two ambulance crews to convey patient from home into an ambulance .“Does this sound safe?”The insider added: “Crews in all stations are incensed by this review as management are simply not listening to our concerns.“This is a dangerous reduction in night time cover, we are all concerned for the welfare and safety of staff, family and friends living in these areas.“it’s seriously dangerous move.”The Scottish Ambulance Service handed out contracts to