Emergency services / Ambulance ‘lost bearings’ in communications blackspot
It caused a slight delay but ‘not to the detriment’ of the patient, meeting hears
A COMMUNICATIONS blackspot caused a Shetland ambulance to “lose its bearings” and suffer a slight delay during a call out, a meeting has heard.
But the ambulance service’s local team leader Drew Mayhew said the delay was “not to the detriment” of the patient in question.
The incident was raised at a meeting of the Shetland community safety and resilience board on Wednesday.
Board chair Allison Duncan said he had heard an ambulance had been dispatched but after falling into a communications blackspot the driver needed help from a member of the public.
Mayhew explained that there are numerous blackspots in Shetland, where there is no communications.
He said Whalsay was an area where this is a particular problem.
The team leader said that when an ambulance loses satellite navigation control staff can guide the driver.
But during the incident in question the ambulance had no access to either types of communication.
Mayhew said in these instances staff may use an “old fashioned” map book, or speak to members of the public.
Regional head of services Andy Fuller said it was a problem “not unique to Shetland”.
He said communications equipment is provided by a national company and there are regular meetings to discuss the service.
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