THE Scottish Ambulance Service is aiming to halve the number of people taken to hospital by increasing the use of on-site treatment methods.

In a recent publication, the service announced a new model that would actively reduce the number of patients treated at ­accident and emergency departments.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) argues the plans are to reduce the number of avoidable transfers for those who do not need them.

However, a separate report has also highlighted a need to make £12.2 million in ­efficiency savings.

The SAS currently responds to 500,000 call-outs each year with about 80% of those patients taken to hospital. Under new targets, the conveyance rate will be reduced to about 35% of emergency calls.

Life-threatening cases will not be affected as only less serious cases will be treated on site.

Alternatives to ­admittance include over- the-phone advice and referrals to local GPs.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients' Association, described the proposal as a big risk to the provision of emergency care. She said: "There is a potential here for a serious misdiagnosis if someone is being treated over the phone."

Jackson Carlaw MSP, the health spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, added: "There is certainly an issue over the sheer number of people who attend A&E, so many of whom don't need to be there."