FOI 25-427 Private Ambulance Assistance
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 25-427 Private Ambulance Assistance
- Request Date
- 14 Nov 2025
- Response Date
- 18 Nov 2025
- Information Requested
Can you please advise why the ambulance service in scotland refuses to use private ambulance companies to assist with demand. Given the high wait times for ambulances and that england have already adopted this model why does the scottish ambulance service refuse to engage in this model.
would this be something they would consider in the future, if the service is there to serve the people why arent the people getting the service they deserve ?
- Response
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not have the authority to delegate care to non-regulated providers within Scotland.
As Health is a devolved matter, the regulatory framework that applies in England and Wales under the Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not extend to Scotland. Should regulation for pre-hospital care or ambulance provision be introduced in Scotland, this responsibility would fall to Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), which undertakes such regulatory functions in Scotland. HIS can only act upon instruction from the Scottish Government, and to date, no such instruction has been issued.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has consistently advocated for the regulation of the private and independent sector in Scotland. We engaged with Healthcare Improvement Scotland approximately nine years ago on this matter and were advised that any regulatory mandate must originate from the Scottish Government.
More recently, the Scottish Ambulance Service was invited to meet with the Scottish Government to discuss potential regulation of this sector. This meeting took place on 5 November 2025 and was attended by senior operational representatives from SAS. We anticipate that these discussions will continue over several months. Should the Scottish Government approve the introduction of regulation, the process of implementation is likely to take additional time. Until such regulation is in place, the Scottish Ambulance Service must adhere to the position that it cannot delegate care to non-regulated providers in Scotland.
