Chamber and committees

Pedestrian usage, both actual and potential, is only one aspect that is investigated when considering footpath provision. Other factors may include the relative engineering difficulty, environmental impact, estimated cost and relevant accident record. All these factors are considered in assessing value for money.

Patients with an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and a transit time of less that 40 minutes will be taken directly to the Heart Attack Centre for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI). This equates to all patients north of a line just south of Ayr, Coylton and Cumnock, or about 70% of the Ayrshire and Arran population. Patients beyond this boundary will receive thrombolytic therapy in the ambulance or at Ayr Hospital as appropriate and be transported to Hairmyres.

This is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the West of Scotland. Where primary angioplasty treatment is only available at the Golden Jubilee Hospital. It is also worth noting that had Ayr accident and emergency closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12956 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Patients self-presenting to Ayr Hospital suffering from non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or who are not appropriate for primary angioplasty, will be treated at Ayr. The most likely reasons for this will be a clinical decision based on co-morbidity and the patient''s wishes. Patients who become unstable in transit from their home may be stabilised in Ayr A&E before receiving further treatment.

The development of a Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Centre at Hairmyres Hospital is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the West of Scotland. At present primary angioplasty treatment is only available for patients in the West of Scotland at the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

It is also worth noting that had Ayr A&E closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

Ambulance staff transmit ECG data via telemetry to the Coronary Care Unit. Experienced Coronary Care staff will use this information to ensure that appropriate patients are identified for immediate transfer to the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention centre.

This is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the West of Scotland where primary angioplasty treatment is only available at the Golden Jubilee Hospital. It is also worth noting that had Ayr A&E closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

Coronary angioplasty is not available in either Ayr or Crosshouse Hospitals. Evidence suggests that better results from coronary angioplasty are obtained by dedicated teams in high volume interventional centres.

The development of a Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Centre at Hairmyres Hospital is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the West of Scotland. At present primary angioplasty treatment is only available for patients in the West of Scotland at the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

It is also worth noting that had Ayr accident and emergency closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

The model for this service enhancement was developed by the West of Scotland Regional Planning Group for Cardiac Intervention, which is comprised of representatives of all west of Scotland boards, including the lead clinicians of the managed clinical networks (MCN). The MCNs all have significant patient representation whose views informed the decision making process.

This is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the west of Scotland where primary angioplasty treatment is only available at the Golden Jubilee Hospital. It is also worth noting that had Ayr accident and emergency closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

Patients transferred to Hairmyres Hospital will return to their local hospital the day after treatment to continue their recovery.

The estimated journey times are set out in the following table.

Estimated Average travel time to Hairmyres Hospital

Ballantrae, South Ayrshire	1 hr 40 minutes
Barr, South Ayrshire	1 hr 40 minutes
Barrhill, South Ayrshire	1 hr 45 minutes
Dailly, South Ayrshire	1 hr 20 minutes
Girvan, South Ayrshire	1 hr 15 minutes
Maybole, South Ayrshire	1 hr
Patna, East Ayrshire	1 hr 5 minutes
Dalmellington, East Ayrshire	1 hr 15 minutes
Rankinston, East Ayrshire	1 hr 5 minutes
Cumnock, East Ayrshire	50 minutes
New Cumnock, East Ayrshire	1 hr
Muirkirk, East Ayrshire	50 minutes

Note: *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service

These times are based on average driving conditions. Journey times may be longer or shorter depending on weather, traffic and the condition of the patient.