§ 33. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make arrangements to extend the double manning of ambulances belonging to the Scottish Ambulance Service to all large burghs.
§ Mr. RossUnder the Scottish Ambulance Service's current three-year programme, double manning of ambulances, will be in operation by 1966–67 in the depôts serving all large burghs, with the exception of Arbroath, where the relatively small number of patients dealt with does not justify double manning. The service is at present considering how to improve arrangements in areas without double manning.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIs the Secretary of State aware that his reply will cause very grave disappointment in Arbroath? Will he look at the matter again, and see whether he can do something rather more 482 satisfactory to deal with a very undesirable situation that is causing considerable hardship on people who have to make calls on the ambulance service, particularly in Arbroath?
§ Mr. RossI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's disappointment at the reply I have given, but I think that he will appreciate, or should be the first to appreciate, that the provision of double manning of the ambulance service should not be related to burghal status but rather to the load of cases dealt with. It would be quite wrong to give priority in this respect to Arbroath as against other areas, when the number of stretcher cases per day in Arbroath is two. It really cannot be justified on the figures that are before me.