Turriff ambulance finally comes into operation - but issues remain
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A long awaited new ambulance to reduce waiting times in Turriff is now in operation after months of delays, but a standby point in town is yet to be secured.
In an update to David Duguid MP, the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed the new vehicle, based in Banff, is fully staffed and now picking up patients.
However, a decision is yet to be made on a specific location in Turriff at which the ambulance and crew can be stationed on standby when on shift.
The service said the vehicle, which has been upskilled to a full accident and emergency resource, will also help to provide additional cover in the evenings and weekends.
Mr Duguid welcomed the news but urged the ambulance service to “explore all avenues” to ensure a standby location in Turriff can be secured and waiting times can be curbed even further for residents in the town.
The Banff and Buchan MP held a public meeting in Turriff in August which was attended by more than 150 people covering issues such as ambulance cover.
He believes the ambulance should be stationed next to Turriff’s minor injuries unit - a facility which he has also been campaigning for to be opened on a full-time basis.
Mr Duguid said: “I’m delighted we have a new, fully crewed ambulance in service in the area which will help to curb the unacceptable waiting times across Turriff in recent years.
“Throughout this campaign, several people expressed their fear when an emergency occurred due to the inadequate local ambulance provision available to them in Turriff.
“Average ambulance waiting times in Turriff are consistently longer than most other locations around the NHS Grampian area.
“But I am concerned that a standby point in the town still hasn’t been agreed despite this being in the works for several months.
“Although the ambulance will be based and maintained at the Banff station, it’s absolutely imperative a standby location in Turriff is secured to reduce waiting times.
“For seriously ill patients suffering strokes or heart attacks, a few minutes could be the difference between life and death which is why having an ambulance in Turriff is so vital to the community.
“I want to ensure all avenues are explored for a permanent standby location in Turriff. I have therefore asked the ambulance service what discussions it has had, and with who, about finding a standby point and when it expects a permanent location to be established.”
Figures released by the ambulance service showed Turriff residents waited more than twice as long for an ambulance as those in other parts of the region last year.
In life-threatening situations, the average length of time taken to respond to a 999 call from Turriff was 22 minutes 16 seconds.
The figure for the town has risen by almost seven minutes since 2019 when it had an average of 15 minutes 45 seconds.
A response to Mr Duguid from Euan Esslemont, deputy regional director, said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service is still very much committed to the introduction of an ambulance stand by point in Turriff.
“I am pleased to update that we have successfully recruited additional staff for Banff Station as an output of the Demand and Capacity programme.
“As a result, the second ambulance based at Banff has been upskilled to a full accident and emergency conveying resource and is now operational. "This also involved a redesign of the roster at Banff which has enabled us to provide additional cover in the evenings and weekends.
“Scottish Ambulance Service are continuing to work with partners to finalise a standby location in Turriff and I'm hopeful I can update you with a timeframe for this soon.”
