Fears over 999 response times in Inverclyde

Independent representatives Lynne Quinn and Tommy McVey say constituents have raised concerns with them about how quickly crews reach callers.

They were keen to pass on these concerns to the Scottish Ambulance Service, via the local authority, but say they struggled to find the relevant forum or point of contact.

Now they have arranged talks with a Scottish Ambulance Service bosses.

Councillor Quinn said: "This is not the ambulance service coming to us so we can criticise and hold them to account.

"It's about us passing on the concerns we have received from the community.

"It's about making sure we can pass on the community's concerns and they can take it over to the powers at be."

The councillors say they are keen to open a dialogue with the SAS following unrest locally about ambulance availability and issues with the centralisation of health services.

Cllr Quinn added: "I have received concerns from people in the constituency about the response time."

At the end of last year, the councillors had raised the prospect of the Scottish Ambulance Service being included in their remit on the Local Police and Fire Scrutiny Committee alongside the two other emergency services.

But officials told them there was no legislative obligation in place for the service to have their activity formally scrutinised by the council, with accountability and governance the remit of the government.

Councillor McVey said: "Our plan is that we engage with the ambulance service, talk to them and try to work together for the benefit of the whole community.

"We just want that engagement and dialogue so we can help our community.

"It's also so that we can try and understand the issues that they have as well.

"We are also going to visit other council areas to see if there are things we can learn from them."