THE PARENTS OF Keiran McKandie, the Moray teenager who was tragically killed in a road accident, have met with the Health Secretary to discuss ambulance response times.
Sandra and Gordon McKandie highlighted their campaign to raise funding to install defibrillators into emergency response police vehicles in Moray.
They also sought assurances over emergency ambulance cover in Moray – and after taking their concerns to local MSP Richard Lochhead, were subsequently invited to a meeting with Shona Robison to raise first-hand the events surrounding the death of their son in March.
Following the meeting, Mr Lochhead said: “All our hearts go out to Mr and Mrs McKandie following the untimely loss of their much loved and popular son, Keiran.
“I commend them for showing determination at this very difficult time to pursue a number of issues to ensure that others can be helped in Keiran’s name. I arranged the meeting with Health Secretary Shona Robison after being contacted by Mrs McKandie to discuss response times of the emergency services at the time of Keiran’s accident.
“Mr and Mrs McKandie wanted to me to take up a number of issues that emerged following the tragedy and the Health Secretary very helpfully agreed to meet my constituents at short notice. The meeting was very helpful with Ms Robison pledging to take the concerns seriously.
“As well as agreeing to investigate Mr and Mrs McKandie’s concerns over the response of the emergency services, Ms Robison praised their campaign to have defibrillators installed in every police vehicle in Scotland to save lives – and offered to work with them on delivering what they rightly view as an important part of Keiran’s legacy.”
Mr Lochhead added that other constituents had also contacted him in connection with ambulance cover in Moray – as a result he has arranged a further meeting with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service to be held in Moray later this month.
Pledge from Health Secretary
Following the meeting Mr and Mrs McKandie issued a statement saying: “Gordon and I would like to thank Richard Lochhead and Shona Robison for meeting with us, to discuss and move forward our concerns regarding the response times from the ambulance service, in relation to our beloved son Keiran’s accident.
“Ms Robison expressed that she would raise our concerns with the appropriate services, investigate appropriately and communicate with us regarding outcomes.
“Ms Robison firmly supported our campaign to install defibrillators into police cars and pledged to help us in the most appropriate route to take this forward as a legacy for Keiran.
“Keiran is and always will be our reason for living and it is unbearable for Keiran not to be part of our lives physically anymore. Keiran is our best friend and only child and the pain of Keiran’s accident will be with us until the day we die.
“We will not allow him to be forgotten and will strive to ensure he has a legacy which will be carried forward into the future. We will campaign in his name for improvements and change to be implemented to ensure that lives are saved.
“We appeal to the people of Moray and Scotland to support us with Keiran’s legacy. If you have donated to Keiran’s fundraiser’s, Just Giving page or personally, Gordon and I would like to express our sincere gratitude on behalf of Keiran.
“If you have not donated and you wish to do so, please go to Just Giving where you can pledge your donation or you can contact us direct on 01343 551392.“