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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Nicola Sturgeon to give covid update as ambulance waiting times crisis continues

Nicola Sturgeon is set to give an update on the state of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland later today.

The First Minister will tell MSPs the latest situation across the country and is also expected to face questions about the ongoing ambulance waiting times crisis.

It comes as injured people are having to be taken to hospital by police officers due to the crisis faced by the ambulance service, according to the Scottish Police Federation.

The trade union said it knows of approximately 30 cases in recent months where patients were driven to hospital in police cars because of a lack of available ambulances or long waits for paramedics.

Last month the army was called in to help drive ambulances amid deteriorating response times and warnings about driver shortages from the ambulance service.

But now the police federation has revealed officers are being also asked to attend medical emergencies and have helped by taking patients to hospital in the absence of ambulances.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has denied the claims.

The First Minister is also expected to face questions about the roll-out of the covid vaccine passport, with reports the smartphone app has failed to work for some people.

Scottish Labour could also quiz Sturgeon on staffing shortages at Scotland's largest hospital.

The Record reported today how the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow is already struggling due to rising demand.

The SNP leader is expected to get to her feet at around 2.20pm in the Chamber, however times may change.

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