FOI 25-268 Inverclyde Incidents

Freedom of Information Request

Reference
FOI 25-268 Inverclyde Incidents
Request Date
23 Jun 2025
Response Date
11 Jul 2025
Information Requested
  1. How many SAS vehicle abstractions from Inverclyde to a) Glasgow, b) Paisley and c) elsewhere have taken place from Inverclyde each week since the beginning of 2025. 
  1. Further to Q1, how many of these abstractions, were for patients with disabilities? 
  1. Further to Q2. how many of these abstractions were for patients who were profoundly deaf? 
  1. What is the a) lowest b) average and c) longest length of waiting time for SAS vehicles attending to patients in Inverclyde? 
  1. Further to Q4, how many of these patients were profoundly deaf? 
  1. What is the SAS process to engage with patients who are profoundly deaf? 
  1. What is the process to engage with profoundly deaf patients when the SAS ambulance is delayed in picking up a patient? 
  1. How many complaints have been registered with SAS either by or on behalf of patients who have a disability? 
  1. Further to Q8, how many of these complaints were generated because of patients who are profoundly deaf? 
Response

For this response we have defined deaf as at least one of the following: 

  • Hearing Impairment 
  • British Sign Language Required 
  • Lip Speaker Required 
  • Deaf/Blind Signer Required 

 

Disability Definition – Patient mobility categorised as ‘Physically Disabled’ 

 

Q1, Q2 and Q3 - Please see the attached sheet detailing the number of conveyances from Inverclyde to hospitals within Glasgow or Paisley broken down weekly.  This table also includes how many of these conveyances were for patients who were deaf and patients who were noted as disabled using the definitions provided above. 

 

This information has been provided over two tabs – T2 and T3.  This information has been provided in two tables as a new clinical system is being phased in. This phased system has been in place since June 24 and involves only a portion of Scotland. There is the possibility that an incident from the Terrapace 3 system could be counted in the Terrapace 2 system and therefore the figures in the table should NOT be added together.   

 

For the given data, you will see that some of the figures are shown as, five or less than five, please note that this figure has been suppressed because the statistical value is less than five. The Scottish Ambulance service has a duty, under the Data Protection Act to avoid directly or indirectly revealing any personal details. It is therefore widely understood that provision of statistics on small numbers, five or less are statistically suppressed upon disclosure.    

 

Q4 -  Please see the attached sheet detailing the response times to incidents within Inverclyde for each week requested; these times are provided in minutes. 

 

Median Response times - The time in which 50% of patients are reached by a SAS crew 

90th Percentile - The time in which 90% of patients are reached by a SAS crew 

 

Please note: the response times show total time and do not factor in possible upgrading or downgrading that may occur depending on the patient condition. For example, a call may start out as a yellow call, subsequently be upgraded to a purple call some time later, but only the total time from the first call received is shown. The starting point is always set for the colour category first determined, not the final colour category assigned. Where delays occur, clinical advisors maintain contact with the patient, checking their condition on an ongoing basis, and upgrading when appropriate. 

 

Q5 – Information on response times is not held in a way that allows us to report on patient specific details.  It is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, as information not held. 

 

Q6 and Q7 - For Speech / Hearing impaired callers – tools such as Text Relay, E-SMS are available for such callers to enable clear communication. Funded by BT and run by the Royal Institute for the Deaf in Liverpool. Callers may be able to hear but not speak or speak but not hear so with the use of a Text Relay Assistant they will be able to make a call. Call-takers will re-assure the caller ASAP that help is being arranged by asking the Text Relay assistant to text back once enough information has been gained. 

Please see the attached communication sent to staff to inform them of the process for engaging with patients who are profoundly deaf. 

 

Q8 and Q9 - Complaints do not have the dataset to report on those that have been received from or on behalf of patients who have a disability.  Complaints are also not categorised in a way that allows us to report on whether they were generated because patients who are profoundly deaf.  It is for these reasons we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, as information not held. 

Response Documents

FOI 268 25 (XLSX | 28KB)

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