Health staffing resilience

Emergency services and military drivers will help health staff across Tayside and Fife get to and from work as travel disruption continues across Scotland.

Local Boards will receive the assistance following a request to the Scottish Government’s Resilience Coordination Centre.

The Ministry of Defence will provide 4x4 vehicles and drivers to provide transport for healthcare staff. This will be supplemented by vehicles from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as well as volunteers who have offered their services to assist.

It follows a similar request from NHS Lothian for assistance transporting staff working at the main hospital sites.

Patient transport will continue to be provided through the Scottish Ambulance Service and other usual methods.

A yellow weather warning is expected to remain in place throughout the weekend and there is still considerable disruption to travel, with difficult road conditions right across the country.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“Emergency services across the country have given a superhuman effort over the past few days and I am particularly grateful to those selfless individuals across the country with 4x4 vehicles who have given up their time to get members of healthcare staff into work. They all deserve our deepest thanks.

“Health and social care staff have worked to ensure hospitals, surgeries and care homes keep operating throughout these difficult circumstances. The care they have delivered for patients has been nothing short of heroic.

“There are stories up and down the country of staff going above and beyond, and it is my priority to ensure their safety is paramount. This assistance will ensure staff can get home to rest, and ensure our NHS can keep operating throughout this challenging time.

“The Scottish Government’s Resilience Coordination Centre is still operating and will continuing to monitor the situation very closely.

“We are working with all the relevant agencies to co-ordinate efforts and I am extremely grateful to each and every one.”