A disabled woman missed a potentially life-saving health appointment after an ambulance which was booked three weeks in advance was suddenly cancelled.
Thomas McDade, 62, had booked a patient transport service for his wheelchair-bound sister Jean to attend a breast screening clinic.
But he claims that the Scottish Ambulance Service, which runs the transport service, phoned him just hours before the scheduled appointment in Glasgow.
Thomas now fears that his sister, who lives in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, will face months of waiting for another date for the crucial check which can identify breast cancer before any symptoms are noticeable.
He said: "I'm outraged. The reason I booked the ambulance three weeks ago is because my sister is severely disabled and wheelchair-bound.
"I can't take her up in a taxi, she needs an ambulance.
"I received a phone call at night to say that no ambulances from the Inverclyde area would be going to Glasgow the next day and cancelled her pick-up.
"When I spoke to an ambulance controller regarding the matter I was told that they only start to look at the movement of patients at 12pm the day before.
"I asked him why I was told it would be no problem when I phoned to book it three weeks ago, if they only look at the transport the day before."
Thomas is now anxious to get Jean another appointment and says he also had to re-organise her home carers.
He added: "It's an important appointment and it will probably take months to get her another one.
"I also had to contact her carers and tell them that my sister would be home after all and could they provide the support that I had previously cancelled.
"I don't want this to happen to anyone else, especially another elderly person who doesn't have anyone to stand up for them.
"I don't think this is the ambulance service's fault, although they could have given me a wee bit more notice. It's the Scottish Government who is in charge of the overall service.
"They should be concentrating on making sure that the Scottish public get the vital services they need.
"But this service that we rely on is getting cut back to the bone."
The Scottish Government said the short notice cancellation was 'unacceptable' and they are investigating the matter.
A spokesman said: "This was an unacceptable experience and we are in contact with the Scottish Ambulance Service to find out what happened in this instance.
"We have increased the Scottish Ambulance Service budget by £11.4m this year which will see the service train an additional 200 paramedics as part of our commitment to training 1,000 more in the next five years.
"The funding will also ensure more clinical advisers and dispatch staff in control rooms, as well as improving care in remote and rural communities."
The Scottish Ambulance Service say they do not comment on an individual case without the patient's consent.
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