Health secretary says only call ambulance if 'absolutely critical'

Scotland's health secretary has been warned he could put lives at risk after urging people to "think twice" before calling an ambulance.

Humza Yousaf said people should only call for an ambulance when it is "absolutely critical".

Opposition politicians condemned the comments, which were made in a BBC radio interview, as "reckless".

The health secretary told Good Morning Scotland the country is in for "an extraordinarily difficult winter".

The NHS in Scotland is already under increasing pressure and people are facing long waits for ambulances.

The recent surge in virus cases has resulted in rising numbers of patients in hospital, with more than 1,000 being cared for across the country.

BBC Scotland this week highlighted the pressure ambulance crews are under and revealed call handlers are dealing with about 10,000 more 999 calls a month than last summer.

Mr Yousaf said: "We are in for an extraordinarily difficult winter.

"We know that the flu season could be extremely challenging, we know that people that are presenting - whether it is presenting to the ambulance service or GPs or A&E - they are presenting more sick because they haven't presented for the last 18 months.

"Looking at the data the last time we had 1,000 patients in hospital with Covid was December 2020, our A&E presentations now, when we have the same number of Covid patients, is 40% higher."

When asked directly if people should "think twice" before calling for ambulance, Mr Yousaf said: "Yes is the short answer to that."

He stated: "I don't doubt that people do that because they are in distressing situations, I think most people only call when they are in that extreme distress."

Mr Yousaf said people who were "picking up the phone to call 999 to call an ambulance" should consider if this is "absolutely critical".

But he stressed if it was they should "of course make that call and the ambulance service will get to you as quickly as they possibly can".

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane described the health secretary's comments as "astonishing".

He said: "Humza Yousaf is making people feel guilty about dialling 999 and seeking urgent help.

"This sort of reckless messaging could put lives at risk. When people suffer conditions like heart attacks or strokes, they might think twice about calling an ambulance, which could lead to unnecessary deaths."

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "Ambulance services are in crisis due to the SNP's failure to support frontline workers and paramedics.

"Humza Yousaf should focus on fixing the problem rather than shaming Scots who are fearing for their health. There is no time to delay."

And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "Humza Yousaf is proving a reckless health secretary. Encouraging people not to seek treatment is a huge gamble.

"Winter pressures come around every year. It is the job of health secretary to ensure that the NHS has the resources it needs to cope with demand."

Ahead of the roll-out of vaccinations to 12 to 15-year-olds from Monday, Mr Yousaf said children who opt not to have the jab should not be stigmatised.

The UK's chief medical officers have recommended the vaccine be extended to young people to help reduce disruption to education.

Mr Yousaf also said it would help address the mental health impact on children from missing school.

Asked about how he ensure children are not singled out if they don't get the jab, Mr Yousaf said: "As the health secretary I will be encouraging as many young people, and as many people in general, to get vaccinated because I believe in the protection of the vaccine.

"But we are going to have to work really, really hard to say that there is no stigma here. It is people's choice."

The jab is not compulsory and Prof Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, has described it as an "offer" of vaccination.

He also said young people and their parents needed to be supported and there should be no stigma attached to their choice.

There is no vaccine currently approved for under-12s in the UK.

Globally the vaccination programme has also focused on those aged 12 and above.

In the US, for example, more than 10 million over-12s have received the jab after experts concluded the benefits of protecting against Covid illness and its complications "far outweigh" the small potential risk of an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

France, Italy, Canada, Spain and Israel are all vaccinating this age group for the same reason.

Find the answers to more of your questions about coronavirus here.