Just Jackie - Jackie Baillie MSP

Published 24 Aug 2010 09:30

Ambulance crisis

I AM deeply concerned at the news that all three of Scotland’s ambulance dispatch centres crashed on the same day last month, resulting in 999 emergency calls being diverted to Belfast.

It is disappointing that we were not told by Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon or the Scottish Ambulance Service.

It was not immediately reported to the public, as it should have been.

Indeed the only reason we know about this is by chance.

I had to go visit the Northern Ireland Service in Belfast to find out about what was going on in the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Was the Scottish Government ever going to tell us what had happened or was it trying to hide this collapse from the public?

The suggestion by the Scottish Ambulance Service that patients were in no way affected by the collapse of the system is completely wrong.

I know of two constituents who were badly affected and had to wait more than an hour on an ambulance because they had mixed up their address.

Thankfully the condition of one of the constituents was not life threatening but it raises serious questions about whether far more serious medical emergencies were hampered by the failure of the system.

In another more serious case, an older person collapsed and split their head open.

The ambulance took one-and-a-half hours to get to them.

I will be pressing Ms Sturgeon to make an immediate statement to Parliament to establish what happened last month and to ensure that it never happens again.

Office move

I AM delighted to move into my new shared parliamentary office in Dumbarton town centre with Gemma Doyle MP.

Gemma and I appreciate the challenges that face this area and we believe that by sharing an office we can co-ordinate our efforts to ensure that we provide you with the best possible service.

In the weeks and months to come, If you need to get a hold of us by phone the number remains the same.

Roving surgeries

I ALWAYS look forward to the Summer, not least because I am spared the four-hour return journey to Edinburgh, but also because I spend time doing roving surgeries, getting out and about throughout the constituency.

These roving surgeries provide an excellent opportunity for constituents to discuss any issues that they may have in the comfort of their own homes.

I have already visited several parts of the constituency this Summer and will be holding surgeries in Townend, Westbridgend and Levenvale in the coming weeks.

Don’t Stop Believing in Singer Station

DUE to the time demands of print deadlines, I am writing this before the final of the talent show Don’t Stop Believing.

However, no matter what the result ends up being I can safely say that Singer Station is a credit to our community.

Well done for getting so far, we are all rooting for you.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 24 Aug 10

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