Letter: Alarm bells

I note with horror that the unions representing ambulance technicians have negotiated a deal whereby crews can now claim a by-the-event payment for attending to emergency calls should they occur during a meal break.

This is in addition to an annual payment for the same thing. This is absolutely disgraceful.

Crews who refused to attend potentially life-threatening calls while on meal breaks should be ashamed of themselves. Using the same argument, should the fire service not turn out to blazes while on meal breaks as well?

If I had refused to attend emergencies while on a break at the chemical plant where I spent much of my working life, not only could tens of millions of pounds worth of damage have been done but, more importantly, lives could have been lost as well.

We all know that ambulance crews do an excellent job and we are aware that they need breaks. But surely it is not unreasonable to suggest that life and limb must always come first?

Brian Allan

Keith Street

Kincardine-on-Forth, Alloa