Moray’s MSP will push NHS Grampian’s chief executive to make changes after paramedics took nearly 30 minutes to reach a teenage cyclist hit by a car.
Richard Lochhead will meet Malcolm Wright today in Elgin to demand answers on behalf of tragic Keiran McKandie’s parents.
The 16-year-old Elgin Academy pupil died after being hit by a car while cycling with friends on the B9010 Dallas to Kellas road, near Craigend on March 20.
Since learning that crews called to treat Keiran took 27 minutes to arrive – nearly four times the Grampian region average for responding to emergencies – Keiran’s parents Gordon and Sandra have called for an investigation into ambulance cover in Moray.
The couple met Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison last week, who pledged to raise their concerns with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
And Mr Lochhead will ask the NHS Grampian boss whether the Elgin hospital can link up more effectively with paramedics to ensure speedier response times.
Mr Lochhead said: “Many points relating to emergency cover are for the Scottish Ambulance Service to answer, but certain aspects are influenced by policy at Dr Grays’s.
“An example of this is that ambulance staff cannot hand over patients at the hospital until they have been received by a medic there.
“While the paramedics are waiting at Dr Gray’s they are not available to respond to emergency calls, and it is therefore crucial that such handovers are swift and efficient.”
Mr Lochhead will also question Mr Wright on whether ambulances are used to transport non-emergency patients to hospitals such as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – which would entail a three to four hour round trip.
He added: “It’s important that precious resources are used appropriately, this would represent a very inefficient use of resources which could leave ambulance cover in Moray badly lacking.”
Mr Lochhead has also arranged a meeting with the head of the Scottish Ambulance Service next week.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has previously said its policy was always to immediately dispatch the nearest vehicle – but that “variable factors” could influence response times.
