Scotland's ambulance crisis escalates as OAP waits 22 hours for 999 paramedics

NHS Scotland staff are working "way beyond" their contracted hours and are struggling to provide quality services, a union has warned. Unison has written to Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to raise a number of concerns around staff welfare.

fuel crisis is beginning to show signs of ‘improvement’, industry chiefs have said. Drivers have queued up at filling stations across Scotland while some businesses have applied maximum spend limits due to a shortage of fuel in recent days.

Irn-Bru could be the next product to be hit by shortages as the lorry driver crisis takes hold. Scottish makers AG Barr has revealed it is 'struggling' to make deliveries of the fizzy drink due to the HGV and supply chain issues currently impacting the UK.

Alister Jack declared military personnel could be seconded in the "long run" if required. A total of 114 soldiers have been drafted in to drive non-emergency vehicles for the Scottish Ambulance Service, with a further 111 members of the armed forces helping to staff coronavirus testing centres.

Mr Yousaf said: “The additional investment I have set out means that the Scottish Ambulance service’s frontline budget is more than 16 per cent higher than it was last year.“The measures we have announced will begin to address some of these issues, both improving the level of service for the public, and also helping to reduce the pressure on the workforce, who are doing so much to serve the public during these incredibly demanding times.”

covid cases across the country. Soldiers, taxi firms and firefighters have been drafted in to help ease pressure on the ambulance service which is also at breaking point.

deputy Prime Minister tried to duck responsibility. At PMQs the SNP deputy Westminster leader said families were facing a “Tory cost-of-living crisis” as she called on the Government to “scrap Tory cuts to Universal Credit and to introduce an emergency energy payment”.Oswald said: “Across Scotland and the UK, millions of families are seeing their incomes slashed by the Tory government with a toxic combination of Tory cuts, tax rises and the growing cost of Brexit.

town after an ambulance was involved in a crash. Police and fire crews were called to Wemyss Bay Road, just off the A78 in Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde on Tuesday afternoon.

the lowest figure in at least six years. Opposition parties branded the figures as "shocking and reprehensible" and accused health secretary Humza Yousaf of failing to get to grips with the issue.

First Minister will address the Scottish Parliament about the high level of covid cases across the country as hospitalisation remain at an alarming level. Cases have surged over the last month-and-a-half after the majority of lockdown restrictions were lifted on August 9 on Scotland's 'Freedom Day'.Sturgeon and other government ministers have urged people to practice good personal hygiene in a bid to halt the surge in cases of the deadly virus.

Nicola Sturgeon announced earlier this week that she was calling in the Army to help deal with the ambulance crisis as pressure mounts on the service.

the Army being called in to help. It can be revealed that up to seven key officials with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) were operating the business at an executive office next to Glasgow Airport – which also houses the crucial mobile Covid testing hub where they work.

Ambulance Service, also said military emergency drivers and logistics staff could become available. Patients are facing massive delays following a surge in calls to 999 handlers and ambulances stacking up outside A+E departments while they wait to transfer the sick.The Daily Record has been at the forefront of exposing the problems in the emergency service.

ambulance used to defy Westminster's ban on safe drug facilities in Scotland will tour some of the UK’s areas worst hit by drug deaths. The bright yellow “ Overdose Prevention Centre ” kitted out by activist Peter Krykant will also visit the Welsh, Northern Irish and UK parliaments as it makes a powerful push for modern, life saving drug interventions.

Scottish Labour 's health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said government ministers can't deny they didn't know about the situation after it being highlighted in parliament and in the media for several months. The First Minister announced at Holyrood yesterday that the Army is being called in to help deal with the crisis after reports people had died while waiting hours for paramedics to arrive.

First Minister faced tough questions from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament over the current situation. The crisis comes as the NHS attempts to recover from being hit hard by the covid pandemic with many services struggling to cope with the virus and normal health concerns.

Homeless Project Scotland were packing up at the charity's soup kitchen on Argyle Sreet on Wednesday night when they saw the man collapse. The trained volunteers suspected the man was suffering from an overdose and administered naloxone - a medicine that works to reverse an opioid overdose.

pressure points in the service - an action already taken in parts of England.The SNP leader spoke out following reports that a frail pensioner found collapsed at his home in Glasgow died following a 40-hour wait for an ambulance.Relatives of Gerard Brown, 65, said they had been told the delay cost the former engineer his life.

SNP Health Secretary said people should think twice before calling 999 for a paramedic due to the current pressures on the NHS. While he pledged any additional cash that could be found would be spent trying to ease the pressure on the health service, the Health Secretary conceded it "will be a challenging autumn and winter".In light of that, he said people should consider whether it is "absolutely critical" for them to call for an ambulance.