AMBULANCES IN FAULTY KIT CRISIS

Damaged equipment is reported 5 times every day | Labour says patient could die if urgent action not taken | Insider tells of concerns on life-saving defibrillators

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

FAULTY gear is reported on Scotland's ageing ambulance fleet five times EVERY DAY.

There were 1826 equipment failures in the Scottish Ambulance Service last year a rise of more than 300 per cent in just five years.

One MSP said the problem must be addressed "before lives are lost". Ambulance unions were outraged by the figures.

Pat Mcllvogue from Unite said: "The fact that there has been a massive increase over five years in faulty and substandard medical equipment] onboard ambulances is shocking and deeply alarming.

"Paramedics in the Scottish Ambulance Service are routinely raising problems with equipment such as defibrillators breaking down and having to call for emergency back-up in lifethreatening situations."

Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser in NHS Scotland, added: "Our members check the equipment in their ambulance at the start of their shift.