FOI 25-403 Pentharox in Ambulances

Freedom of Information Request

Reference
FOI 25-403 Pentharox in Ambulances
Request Date
18 Sep 2025
Response Date
02 Oct 2025
Information Requested

I am currently writing a QI essay on introducing Pentharox in ambulances up in Thurso and Wick, as to my surprise when I was up there on placement, their ambulances were not stocked with it. I was wondering if you would be able to support my essay by answering a few questions please?  

  1. Is there a particular reason why pentharox is not up there stocked in ambulances already?  
  1. Combining the 2 stations. Is there more paramedics or technicians, with the exact statistics.  
  1. Since 2022, In Thurso and Wick, how times has there been a double technician crew during a shift?  
  1. Since 2022, how many incidents were there with the following MPDS Codes ( 7, 22, 27 , 29, 30) Out of those incidents, how many times was it a double technician crew that turned up.   
Response
  1. Pentharox is not an approved medication for stocking in Scottish Ambulance Service vehicles, and therefore, no funding is allocated for its procurement. A limited trial involving three small rural stations is on-going.  Scottish Ambulance Service Vehicles are currently stocked with Entonox, IV Paracetamol, and Morphine as approved analgesic alternatives.

 

  1. Combining the stations of Thurso and Wick, there are a total headcount of 15 paramedics and 25 Technicians.

As a Whole Time equivalent (WTE) there are a total of 15 paramedics and 22 Technicians. 

 

  1. We have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 to data on double crew technicians.  To help explain the application of this exemption, resources can change role throughout the day, such as A&E to Urgent Tier etc; it is for this reason we cannot accurately report on these figures.

 

  1. Please see the table below detailing the number of incidents attended for each code requested where the emergency had the locality of Thurso or Wick from 01/01/2022 - 31/08/2025.  Where information has not been provided, there were no incidents to report.

 

Chief Complaint Group Desc 

Attended Incidents 

Burns / Explosions 

20 

Stab / Gun / Penetrating 

9 

Traffic / Transportation Accident 

19 

Traumatic Injuries 

57 
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