Skye Councillor Seeks Assurances From Scottish Ambulance Service

Highland Councillor Hamish Fraser has written to the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service asking for assurances that problems with the landing lights at Broadford airstrip have been addressed and to seek clarification about the future of the service for Skye and Lochalsh.

Councillor Fraser said: "I was alarmed to read in the West Highland Free Press of the failure of landing lights at Broadfrod airstrip. Although Air Wing was made aware of the problem at the beginning of November 2005, I understand that the necessary repairs were not carried out until the 7th of February this year. It is vital that we have a reliable air ambulance service and that patients needing urgent medical attention can be evacuated from the Island twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. It is very important for us to have this air link which is a life line for patients, especially since surgical and anaesthetic services have been withdrawn from the Mackinnon Memorial Hospital in Broadford.

"I am writing to Adrian Lucas, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service to find out why the problem of the landing lights was not addressed as soon as it was reported and to get his assurance that the problem is now fixed and that the system in place will not allow such failure in the future.

"Gama Aviation has been awarded the contract for a new Air Ambulance Service for Scotland which will start in April. In my letter I have also asked Mr Lucas for a full breakdown of the new proposals for Skye and Lochalsh to ensure we have a firm commitment that we will receive the same level of flights, response times and availability of aircraft as we have enjoyed in the past."