Ambulance drivers reject deal to attend call-outs when on a break

Crews are allowed rest breaks, which are unpaid, during which the control room does not contact them.

However, recent controversies such as the death of Mandy Mathieson, 33, who had a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, in October last year have called the policy into question.

At the time Scottish Ambulance Service said a local on-duty technician did not respond to the call because he was on a break. Paramedics from Grantown-on-Spey, around 15 miles away, were dispatched instead.

In April, Crieff toddler Martyn Gray died when an ambulance was delayed.

Scottish Ambulance Service has since offered a one-off payment of 250 and compensatory overtime if crews worked through a rest period.

The offer was already turned down by members of the Unite and Unison unions. Representatives from all three unions are reportedly meeting ambulance service chiefs later this week.

The GMB decision follows a meeting in Dundee earlier this month in which union stewards pointed out that the unpaid-rest policy has had a "devastating effect" on staff morale.

They said the unpaid-rest period was "forced" on staff during restructuring, known as Agenda For Change.

The union's Mick Conroy said this had led to staff being branded "unwilling to attend emergency calls, callous and with no conscience".

He said the Scottish Ambulance Service's offer is "paltry".

Conservative health spokesman Murdo Fraser has urged GMB members to think again.

He said: "This is completely unacceptable. We all applaud the tireless and dedicated work of our emergency services and, of course, it is vital that staff are well rested and alert on the job. However, serious injury, critical illness and imminent death do not wait for tea breaks.

"An emergency service must be able to cope with all emergencies, as the fire service does. I hope the Scottish Government make their displeasure clear and I would urge the unions to think again.

"We do not want any more tragedies like the ones in Tomintoul and