Front line crews working for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) allege that the charity’s ambulances are covering up for a shortage of full-time vehicles and warn that although trained to administer medical treatment, Red Cross personnel are not qualified to deal with all 999 calls.

In a recent survey which formed part of the review, 89 per cent of drug and alcohol service users believed people would be more likely to call an ambulance in the event of a drugs overdose - meaning more lives could be saved.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has defended its decision not to allow a paramedic to go to the aid of a dying teenager without police back-up. Stuart Baillie, 19, bled to death after being stabbed in the neck in the East End of Glasgow in August 2007.