The Scottish Government has announced an extra £6.3m for the Scottish Ambulance Service. Responding to the announcement, Julia Scott CEO of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists said: “We welcome this extra investment by The Scottish Government into The Scottish Ambulance Service to help ensure that fewer people are transported or admitted to hospital unnecessarily. Deploying occupational therapists alongside ambulance services is cutting the number of people who need to be transported to A&E dramatically.
“We would encourage the Scottish Ambulance Service to look at what has been achieved so far by paramedics and occupational therapists working together when determining how this money should be invested. Increasing the number of Occupational Therapists working with paramedics would have a huge impact in further reducing the pressure currently being placed on Scotland’s hospitals.”