PARAMEDICS are considering industrial action over increasing workloads which a report claims is putting patients at risk.

The new report by the Scottish Ambulance Service reveals that members are spending longer waiting to hand over patients at busy accident and emergency units and that control rooms are fielding more calls from people unable to get an appointment with a GP.

The GMB union, which represents paramedics, said its members are now considering work to rule or an overtime ban in protest over mounting pressures.

John Marr, GMB national secretary, said: "We do not have enough resources. We've been having this argument with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service for some time. Workload has increased ten-fold. People call the ambulance service because they can't get a GP, or because NHS 24 passes them on to us. This is having an impact on staff. They are at breaking point, with 20-minute breaks in 12-hour shifts."

Mr Marr added: "We have been on the brink of looking at some kinds of industrial action, such as an overtime ban or work to rule."

It comes as a report by the Scottish Ambulance Service, 'Towards 2020', reveals that the turnaround time for ambulances from the point of arriving at hospital until departure has risen nine per cent in a year.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government announced that £6.3m will be invested to help the Scottish Ambulance Service up-skill paramedics, treat more patients in the community and reduce the numbers requiring hospital admission.

The funding will help train 46 new specialist paramedics, taking the total number in post to 78. Specialist paramedics carry an extended range of medicines and equipment to help reduce A&E admissions. The Scottish Government has also committed to recruit 1000 extra paramedics by the end of the current parliament.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "Shifting the balance of care from hospitals to community settings - by redesigning and reforming the way services are delivered - is all about placing the patient at the centre. Therefore delivering care and support within local communities is a win-win for both patients and the health service."

Scottish Ambulance Service Chairman, David Garbutt, said: "We welcome this additional investment which will further enable us to deliver the highest possible level of patient-centred care across Scotland in line with our ‘Towards 2020’ strategy."