Busy Ambulance: Doctor had to improvise. Pic: © STV
A doctor on Shetland had to drive a heart attack victim to hospital in a hired van after being told that no ambulance was available, it has been revealed.
The patient, an oil worker who became unwell on the Healther Alpha, was airlifted from the platform and then met by the doctor in a hired transit van.
The only ambulance in Lerwick was at another call-out at the time.
A second ambulance is due to be in place by the end of March.
Chief Executive of NHS Shetland Sandra Laurenson said: “It’s underlined a problem that we knew was potential. Since last may the Scottish Ambulance Service have introduced overtime which has alleviated a number of the concerns however it has not been failsafe.
“This has happened just before the introduction which has been many months in the planning."
