Winter ambulance boost for Scotland

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20 December 2011 at 11:20

People living in Scotland will be pleased to hear that more ambulances than ever before have been equipped to tackle the snow and ice.

A record number of the country's ambulances have been decked out with snow chains, winter tyres or 4x4 capabilities, according to the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).

It said that its 150-vehicle fleet will also be bolstered by the presence of specialist Land Rovers and six-wheeled machines.

The service also announced that during busy periods it has boosted resources by as much as a fifth in a bid to meet the surging Christmas demand.

Pauline Howie, SAS chief executive, said: "Our staff work tirelessly to respond to people in need, whatever the weather conditions.

"Our 4x4 capacity is greater than any previous year and detailed operational plans are in place to cope with adverse weather, which worked well during the recent storms.

"As they enjoy festive parties, we would ask people to drink sensibly and wrap up well for the weather. This will help us to focus our ambulances on responding to those people who are in most need of our help."

Copyright © Press Association 2011