Nicola Sturgeon's Covid-19 update RECAP: First Minister set to address Scottish Parliament | Health Secretary Humza Yousaf preparing statement on Scotland's ambulance crisis
and live on Freeview channel 276
Keep up-to-date with developments as the First Minister and Health Secretary deliver statements to MSPs.
Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf RECAP: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Key Events
- FM to update MSPs on Covid-19 pandemic
- Yousaf preparing response to ambulance crisis
- A&E waiting times worst on record for fifth time in six weeks
Mr Yousaf announced to parliament today that additional funding of £20 million will be invested in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to help improve response times, alleviate pressures and improve staff wellbeing.
It is part of the NHS Recovery Plan and will deliver a net increase of almost 300 ambulance service staff by April 2022.
The new investment will include the introduction of military personnel and paramedic students
The new investment will include assistance from more than 100 military personnel – 88 drivers and 15 support staff – following final approval by the Ministry of Defence.
These military personnel are expected to begin deployment from this weekend onwards.
Roughly 100 second year paramedic students will be assisting in ambulance control rooms and additional support from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the form of volunteer drivers will be given too.
Too little, too late, warns union as Humza Yousaf announces ambulance military support
More than 100 military personnel will be deployed to support the Scottish Ambulance Service from this weekend, health secretary Humza Yousaf has told MSPs.
Mr Yousaf announced a raft of new measures, including a £20 million investment and support from the fire service, Red Cross and taxis, to help cope with huge pressures on the ambulance service.
But the union Unite warned these measures “will not be enough”, adding more should have been done earlier.