First Minister Alex Salmond has vowed to change rules forcing paramedics to take tea breaks following the tragic death of a Perthshire three-year-old while waiting for an ambulance.
He made the pledge at Holyrood after Tory leader Annabel Goldie raised concerns over the case of Martyn Gray.
The Courier previously reported that it took 48 minutes for an ambulance to reach the youngster after he took ill at his home in Park Cottages, Drummond Castle, near Crieff, on April 30.
One ambulance was less than 10 minutes away but didn’t respond to the call as the crew were on a tea break.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) must comply with UK-wide NHS rules on rest breaks for staff. Under the policy, all NHS staff are entitled to an undisturbed break during their operational shift.
During first minister’s questions at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Ms Goldie pointed out that an investigation was ordered into the potentially tragic consequences of the rule after a prior case.
Mandy Mathieson (33) died after suffering cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, on October 16.
The local on-duty technician did not respond to the call because he was on his tea break, and paramedics from Grantown-on-Spey, around 15 miles away, were dispatched instead.
“Today it became apparent that the investigation has not been completed and certainly no conclusions have been given to the parliament,” Ms Goldie said.
“Now, it has happened again. Tragically, in April, a little boy aged three from Crieff died.
“He did not receive prompt medical attention even though there was an ambulance only 10 minutes away because, again, the crew was on a tea break.
“Sometimes the ambulance service apparently diverts calls away from any crew on a tea break, so I accept the crew themselves may be unaware of a local emergency.”
Branding the current arrangements “completely unacceptable,” Ms Goldie demanded action.
“An emergency service must cope with emergencies. That’s what the fire service does. Why doesn’t the ambulance service?
“Seven months ago, a tragedy occurred. In April it happened again. No MSP wants to contemplate having to raise this issue another time,” she said.
“So where is the report following November’s investigation? What was its conclusion? And why hasn’t it been spelled out to the parliament?”
Mr Salmond insisted that the matter was being treated “very seriously.”
“The Tomintoul case, the facts of the case are well known, the facts have been investigated and reported on of course,” he said.
“The second case, as she rightly indicates, there are a number of issues that are still to be clarified in terms of the information that was available to staff.”
It later emerged that health secretary Nicola Sturgeon is to seek a meeting with the boy’s parents, Lisa and Martin Gray.
Mr and Mrs Gray, who are both 32, have three other children Chloe (12), Luke (9) and Caleb (6).
A government spokeswoman said, “Scottish Government officials continue to meet with the Scottish Ambulance Service to consider the current arrangements in place.
“These urgent discussions are currently ongoing with a view to identifying a suitable way forward to address what is a complex issue but the status quo cannot remain.”
An SAS spokesman added, “Under the policy, all NHS staff are entitled to an undisturbed break during their operational shift.
“This can prove challenging in rural ambulance stations, which operate with smaller pools of staff than urban stations.
“This is a complex issue and we continue to work with the Scottish Government to find a solution to the challenges that the policy creates.”