Published: Wednesday, 28th May, 2008 12:00pm

Soaring fuel prices leads to dramatic fall in volunteer ambulance drivers

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The number of volunteer ambulance drivers in the Borders is set to fall dramatically as the fuel crisis deepens.

Volunteer ambulance drivers, as part of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s Non-Emergency Service, play a vital role as they transport often seriously ill patients to and from hospitals, clinics and day centers.

Volunteers donate their time and the use of their own vehicle, and in return receive a mileage allowance. This leaves ambulance crews free to deal with those who have more urgent and specialist needs.

Official figures show that this mileage rate payable to volunteer drivers within the ambulance service has fallen by 17% since 2001, despite petrol and diesel prices having spiralled over the same period. These statistics coincide with a 14% fall in the number of volunteer drivers since 2005.

Borders MSP, John Lamont believes that the Government and the Ambulance Service should take whatever steps necessary to reverse these worrying trends. He said, “The number of volunteer drivers in Scotland has fallen from 324 in 2004-05 to just 280 in 2006-07. News that mileage rates have been frozen for 8 consecutive years appears to explain this.

“At a time when fuel prices are soaring, volunteer drivers have been hit in the pocket with a 17 % real terms cut in mileage rates. I have had representations from volunteer drivers in the Borders and those who depend upon them expressing concern for the future.

“Unless action is taken we should not be surprised if the number of volunteer drivers in the Borders falls sharply against the backdrop of record high fuel prices.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said, “We are aware of the recent rise in fuel prices and the effect that this has on our volunteer ambulance drivers.

“We are reviewing these arrangements at present in the hope of coming up with a solution.”