Ambulance breaks deal finally brings 'closure' for Perthshire family
The parents of a tragic Perthshire toddler say they finally feel some ''closure'' after hearing the news a tea-break deal has been struck with the country's paramedics.
- By Kirsten Johnson and political editor David Clegg
- Published in the Courier : 19.01.12
- Published online : 19.01.12 @ 12.20pm
Though nothing will bring back Martyn Gray, who died after waiting more than 45 minutes for an ambulance, his father Martin said other young lives would be saved.
Mr Gray (32) and his wife Lisa (33) have been campaigning for a change in the regulations — which meant crews on official rest periods weren't notified of 999 calls — since they lost their three-year-old in April.
When Martyn fell ill at their previous home on the outskirts of Crieff, paramedics were on a break and an ambulance had to make the 25-mile journey from Stirling. Unsure of the Strathearn area, the driver got lost on the way and the panic-stricken couple were forced to give directions over the telephone.
After months of haggling between union leaders and the Scottish Government, it was announced on Wednesday that ambulance staff had finally agreed to interrupt tea breaks to respond to emergency calls — after securing a deal worth the equivalent of 15 extra days' holiday each year.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs the long-running dispute had been resolved by a package of measures that will also include 150 extra staff hired at the cost of £5m.
Under the new plans, staff will move to a 37.5-hour paid week inclusive of rest periods, and will be required to attend 999 calls throughout their shift period.
Previously, staff were rostered for 40 hours per week, paid for 37.5 hours and entitled to 2.5 hours of unpaid rest periods, when they would not respond to emergency calls.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Mr Gray said he felt a sense of relief.
''It was getting to the stage we thought there would never be an agreement," he said. ''Nothing can bring Martyn back but at least we now know that more families shouldn't have to go through what we've been through.''
Mr Gray revealed he had received a letter from the chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service on Wednesday morning, notifying him that there had been a resolution.
Mr Gray said: ''The letter said a deal had been struck but didn't list the details so we made sure we were in front of a TV at 2.30pm to see it announced live.
''We want to thank Nicola Sturgeon as she stuck to her word. She also made a valid point in parliament that paramedics offer an 'emergency' service, not just an 'essential' service — which is something we feel strongly about noting.''
The couple, who have three other children, are now concentrating on the future.
Mr Gray said: ''We can never move on from what happened — Martyn will always be in our thoughts — but we can finally start moving forward. It has brought us a bit of closure.''
Martyn's death came after a similar incident in which Moray woman Mandy Mathieson died in October 2010.
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08.05am - 20.01.2012 Mary Lomond - Dundee, UK Report This
Who are paramedics to recategorise calls? If a GP or NHS24 feel a patient needs to go to hospital, the ambulance is basically an emergency transport service with paramedic support on board! They should NOT be recategorising or trying to play doctor as they are clearly not trained for that!
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