Mr. Ted Kenny:

On the first question, the National Ambulance Service has significantly improved its fleet. The ambulances are of a high standard. Waiting times in accident and emergency departments are a major issue and challenge for us on two fronts. Given the Covid pathway in accident and emergency departments, ambulances could wait for five, six or seven hours to get Covid patients through a department due to the availability of beds. There are now many protocols around Covid, PPE and cleaning and decontaminating vehicles and beds in accident and emergency departments and hospitals. They are all challenging aspects for the National Ambulance Service.

The waiting time for non-Covid patients in some accident and emergency departments can be anything up to two or three hours. That is an issue that has to be addressed. Scotland has hospital liaison officers attached to each acute hospital who liaise to free up ambulances. That is being considered by a working group. There is a belief that after its meeting later today there will be a recommendation that will help to alleviate the problem and free ambulances to go to the next available call.