§ Mr. Malcolm McMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in view of the transport difficulties involved and the physical suffering endured by patients, particularly expectant mothers, having to be taken in emergency in small boats from the Isle of Barra to hospital in South Uist, he will consider making an arrangement under which the use of a helicopter will be available at the request of the local doctor;
(2) if he will now consider making arrangements for the availability in emergency cases of a helicopter, at the request of doctors in the Outer Hebrides, for the transport of patients to mainland hospitals when other means of travel art not immediately available or involve hardship and delays, or danger to the life of the patients concerned.
§ Mr. Ross:Emergency cases in the Outer Hebridges are normally sent to hospitals on the mainland, and air ambulance facilities using fixed wing aircraft are available from Barra, Benbecula and Stornoway. Doctors can ask for the 414W assistance of a services helicopter if the case is one of critical emergency and there is no other suitable transport available. In the case of normal obstetric cases who are considered suitable for confinement in the Bute Hospital, Daliburgh, the patients travel by steamship on the routine service from Castlebay to Lochboisdale and are taken into hospital a few days before the expected confinement date. If the timing does not enable them to travel by the steamship service, they may be transported by the motor boat ferry from Eoligarry on Barra to Kilbride on South Uist; and if the weather is unsuitable for this ferry boat the Castlebay lifeboat may be used to transport them to Lochboisdale. If my hon. Friend has any particular difficulties in mind, perhaps he would let me know.