FOI 25-550 - Winter Pressure Readiness

Freedom of Information Request

Reference
FOI 25-550 - Winter Pressure Readiness
Request Date
26 Nov 2025
Response Date
17 Dec 2025
Information Requested

Please provide detailed information about what concrete steps the Scottish Ambulance Service has taken over the past 12 months to prepare for winter pressures, and how the recently allocated additional funding will be spent.  

Over many previous winters, the SAS appears to respond reactively rather than with sustained preparation. Given the recent announcement of additional government support intended to strengthen ambulance and patient flow services over the winter period, I wish to understand what has actually been done to ensure a durable, effective response - not simply short-term fixes. Accordingly, please provide the following information:  

  1. A timeline and summary of the concrete measures introduced by SAS since November 2024 to improve winter readiness. 
  2. A breakdown of how theadditionalfunding (or “winter resilience” funding) has been allocated or is planned to be spent by SAS.  
  3. Details of how SAS intends tomonitorand measure the effectiveness of these measures over the winter period - including which performance indicators or metrics will be used and how often those will be reported internally or publicly.  
  4. Any internal risk assessments, planning documents or contingency plans produced within the last 12 months that outline worst-case scenarios and mitigation strategies for winter demand, staffing shortages or hospital handover delays. 
  5. Records of any reviews or audits conducted over the past 12 months related to winter planning or performance during peak demand periods and if available, any identified failures or shortcomings together with the planned corrective actions.
Response
  1. A timeline and summary of the concrete measures introduced by SAS since November 2024 to improve winter readiness. 

The information provided reflects what is held by SAS. Under Section 17 of FOISA, public authorities are not required to create new information to answer a request. We have therefore provided a summary of measures as recorded in our planning and operational documents.  The Scottish Ambulance Service do not hold a timeline and summary of concrete measures to improve winter readiness. 

It is important to note that our planning and operational measures are designed to address a wide range of system pressures throughout the year, not solely during winter. These pressures include increased demand, hospital turnaround times impacting ambulance availability, and wider health system challenges. 

SAS operates under the Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) and National Escalation Plan (NEP) frameworks, which are in place all year round to manage demand and maintain service resilience.  A key element of our work is robust engagement with Scottish Government, NHS Boards, Out of Hours services, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and third sector organisations. This collaborative approach supports whole-system planning and avoids reliance on short-term fixes.  In particular, working closely with Flow Navigation Centres and mental health pathways helps to refer patients to the appropriate services, reducing reliance on conveyance to Emergency Departments. 

  1. A breakdown of how theadditionalfunding (or “winter resilience” funding) has been allocated or is planned to be spent by SAS.  

Please see the table below detailing the planned funding split; it is important to note that is an estimated split and has still to be confirmed. 

£995k Winter Resilience Planned Funding Split 

£000s 

Integrated Clinical Hub - GP resources 

             £520,000 

Transport Hub 

             £475,000 

Total 

             £995,000 
  1. Details of how SAS intends tomonitorand measure the effectiveness of these measures over the winter period - including which performance indicators or metrics will be used and how often those will be reported internally or publicly.  

The Scottish Ambulance Service have a range of measures to monitor effectiveness all year-round, including during winter through the following indicators: 

  • Call volumes 
  • Volume of incidents managed on-scene (including calls managed through the Integrated Clinical Hub) 
  • Volume of discharges versus the baseline 
  • Patient Experience Feedback 

These indicators provide a continuous oversight of system pressures, service volumes and care outcomes. 

Where related data are published: 

  • Board papers / Quality Indicators Performance Reports: broader performance metrics, including non‑conveyance and Integrated Clinical Hub updates – Board Papers 
  • Patient experience: annual “Feedback, Comments, Concerns and Complaints” reports – Reports 

Note: The weekly operational statistics are designated Official Statistics and provide the most current public view of operational performance 

 

  1. Any internal risk assessments, planning documents or contingency plans produced within the last 12 months that outline worst-case scenarios and mitigation strategies for winter demand, staffing shortages or hospital handover delays. 

We have applied section 25 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as this information is easily accessible on the Scottish Ambulance Service website.  The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) publishes its Winter Contingency Plan each year and associated performance material that describe our approach to winter demand, handover delays and related mitigations. These can be accessed here: 

These plans explain how the Scottish Ambulance Service anticipates concurrent risks over winter and states that this may produce an unprecedented operating environment. 

  1. Records of any reviews or audits conducted over the past 12 months related to winter planning or performance during peak demand periods and if available, any identified failures or shortcomings together with the planned corrective actions.

The Scottish Ambulance Service operates a continuous‑improvement approach, routinely reviewing performance and implementing actions to improve patient care. 

We are withholding the requested information under s30(b)(i) and (ii). The information requested contains candid advice and evaluative discussions used to test and refine options before decisions are finalised. Disclosure would substantially inhibit frank advice/exchange in future, leading to sanitised feedback and weaker learning, and would prejudice the Service’s improvement process. 

Public interest 

We recognise the interest in transparency and are releasing factual elements. However, preserving a private space for candid review better serves the public interest by enabling robust, well‑tested improvements to patient care and operational readiness.  The Scottish Ambulance Service offers learnings and mitigations throughout the year in published documents linked above.  On balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs disclosure of reviews or audits held at this time. 

In This Section