TIME pressured paramedics say they are driving to emergency call-outs in ambulances which may not be safe.

Emergency workers say they were previously given time ahead of their shift to carry out essential checks on the vehicle and monitor equipment and drug supplies.

However, staff in Glasgow say they are under pressure to get out on the road as soon as their shift starts.

Paramedics say crews are coming in 15-20 minutes earlier to make sure ambulances are safe and well stocked.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said staff would be given time to carry out checks, “at the earliest opportunity” if they were interrupted by a call-out.

It has also launched a pilot scheme to give staff protected time to ensure ambulances are roadworthy.

One paramedic, who has more than 30 years experience, said: “If you started at 7am, you used to get 15 to 20 minutes to check your ambulance; tyre pressure, oil, water headlights and all your equipment.

“Now, you don’t get that. If you start your shift at 7am, you are out the door at 7.01am not having done any roadworthy checks on your vehicle.

“Crews are going out not knowing if the vehicle they are driving is faulty. They are depending on the person in front of them.

“These ambulances are running 24/7.”

Staff have also voiced concerns that trainees are being sent out on the road too soon, with only basic first aid skills to plug staffing gaps.

A new scheme was launched last year to improve accessibility in the ambulance service for those without formal educational qualifications.

Ambulance Technicians are required to undertake ten weeks of clinical and driver training at Glasgow Caledonian University, followed by a year of supervised placement before they return to university for further training.

However paramedics claim some students are being sent out on the road earlier.

A source said: “They are getting folk coming out of the training school after three or four weeks with only basic first aid skills.

“Because the sickness is so bad, they are just putting bums on seats.

“They are getting told, you will only be out in an ambulance for three or four weeks but they are still there after nine or ten months.

“It puts 100% on the other person.

“If you go to a major accident and you are the first ambulance there, you are the only person who can triage that whole scene.

“It takes two members of staff to deal with anyone who is in dire need of hospital admission.”

A spokeswoman from the Scottish Ambulance Service said vehicles were checked every six weeks.

She added: “We are committed to staff being given time at the beginning of their shift to carry out a daily inspection of their vehicle.

“Where this is interrupted by the need to respond to an emergency call, the crew will be given the chance to complete the check at the earliest opportunity.

“We have been trialling a pilot in recent months to give staff protected time to carry out these checks and this pilot will be evaluated for roll out throughout the Service this year.

“As a matter of course, our Workshops staff carry out safety checks on our vehicles every six weeks in addition to planned servicing.

On the trainee concerns raised she said: “Trainees complete six weeks of classroom based clinical training followed by a four week Emergency Response Driving Course.

“They then spend the remainder of the year operating as a Student Ambulance Technician Level 3 under the supervision of qualified staff.

“The total time to complete both levels is around 16 months.”