Ambulance delay criticism has been mounting in recent days following a disturbing incident involving a women’s soccer player in Scotland. Courtney Stewart, a midfielder for Partick Thistle, was left waiting for three hours for an ambulance to arrive after suffering a head injury during a Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) match against Rangers. The delay has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the medical provisions in place for women’s soccer players in Scotland.
SWPL Match Turns into Medical Nightmare
The incident occurred during the 10th minute of the match at Broadwood Stadium, which Rangers went on to win 4-0. Stewart went down after a head collision and was treated on the pitch by Rangers’ medical staff and first aiders. Despite their best efforts, Stewart suffered a seizure and was moved to the dressing room to wait for an ambulance. However, what followed was a shocking display of inefficiency and lack of preparedness.
According to reports, Stewart was left waiting for three hours for an ambulance to arrive. This is an unacceptable delay, especially considering the severity of her injury. The fact that she was awake and talking when she was eventually taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow is a testament to the excellent care she received from the medical staff on site. However, the delay in getting her to a hospital is a serious cause for concern.
League Rules Under Scrutiny
The incident has raised questions about the league rules governing medical provisions at SWPL matches. Currently, there is no requirement for clubs to have an ambulance present at games. However, home clubs are required to have a qualified medical practitioner on site to treat players. In this case, Rangers’ medical staff did an excellent job of treating Stewart, but the delay in getting her to a hospital is a clear indication that the system failed her.
Former Spartans manager Debbi McCulloch has been vocal about the need for a review of medical provisions at SWPL games. Last season, she called for changes after Becky Galbraith received on-pitch treatment for 27 minutes before being taken to hospital with a neck injury. The incident involving Stewart is a stark reminder that more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of women’s soccer players in Scotland.
Criticisms and Calls for Change
Brian Graham, Partick Thistle’s manager, has been vocal about his criticism of the delay in getting Stewart to a hospital. “I just don’t think we get that in the men’s game,” he said. “I can’t thank Rangers’ medical staff and the first aiders here enough, they’ve been brilliant with her… But I just don’t think we get that in the men’s game.” Graham’s comments highlight the disparities in medical provisions between men’s and women’s soccer in Scotland.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the resources available to women’s soccer players in Scotland. The lack of funding and resources is a major concern, and it is clear that more needs to be done to address these issues. As Graham noted, “Obviously it comes down to finance.” However, this is no excuse for the lack of preparedness and inefficiency that led to Stewart’s delay in getting to a hospital.
Implications for Women’s Soccer in Scotland
The incident has serious implications for women’s soccer in Scotland. It highlights the need for a review of medical provisions at SWPL matches and the need for more resources to be allocated to women’s soccer. The Scottish Women’s Football Association (SWFA) has a responsibility to ensure that players are safe and protected, and this incident suggests that more needs to be done to achieve this goal.
The incident also raises questions about the equality of resources between men’s and women’s soccer in Scotland. The fact that men’s soccer players have access to better medical provisions and resources is a clear indication of the disparities that exist between the two sports. It is time for the SWFA and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to take action to address these disparities and ensure that women’s soccer players have access to the same level of resources and medical provisions as their male counterparts.
A Call to Action
The incident involving Courtney Stewart is a wake-up call for women’s soccer in Scotland. It highlights the need for change and the need for more resources to be allocated to women’s soccer. The SWFA and the SFA must take action to address the disparities in medical provisions between men’s and women’s soccer and ensure that women’s soccer players have access to the same level of resources and medical provisions as their male counterparts.
The delay in getting Stewart to a hospital is unacceptable, and it is time for action to be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The women’s soccer community in Scotland deserves better, and it is time for the SWFA and the SFA to deliver.