Graham Rants About a Three-Hour Ambulance Wait: Is Time Traveling Possible?

In the latest episode of “Did They Really Just Wait That Long?”, Partick Thistle women’s manager Brian Graham is throwing a bit of shade at the ambulance service – and he’s not mincing words. After Thistle player Courtney Stewart found herself in a bit of a pickle, suffering a head injury during their SWPL face-off against Rangers, Graham couldn’t help but voice his disapproval of the three-hour wait for a rescue chariot.

On the fine day of footballing action at Broadwood Stadium (which, spoiler alert, didn’t end well for Thistle as they were schooled 4-0), Stewart took a tumble in the 10th minute and almost instantly realized that her head could not quite handle the slapstick humor of a collision. Cue the dramatic seizure scene! Thankfully, the Rangers staff swooped in like superheroes, treating her on the pitch like she just got hit by a rogue bat during a family picnic. After they played doctor, she was whisked off to the dressing room, where she and her unlucky teammates could watch the minutes tick by at a pace that would make a sloth look like Usain Bolt.

Finally, three long hours later, just after tea time (5 PM, for those keeping score), she hitched a ride to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. “I’ve got to hand it to Rangers’ medical squad; they were spectacularly brilliant!” Graham gushed, clearly smitten. But just like a naggy friend who brings up your terrible karaoke every time you meet, Graham felt compelled to point out how such concerns feel more like a punchline in the men’s game.

You see, in Scotland, the league rules are a bit quirky. There’s no legal requirement for clubs to have ambulances at their fancy games. So, as luck would have it, while they provide a doctor and a couple of stretchers (which is a bare minimum), you might find yourself still waiting longer for an ambulance than for your Christmas snail mail. Remember last season’s saga with Becky Galbraith, who had her own dramatic on-pitch rendezvous with an injury that included a 27-minute wait before being packed off to the hospital? Classic!

So, what can you do, Graham mused, probably while sipping a lukewarm coffee in the dressing room? “Well, it probably boils down to money. Guys, let’s throw some change at our medical system like it’s a charity auction!” But don’t worry – Stewart was wide awake and chatting away as she set off for her hospital adventure. At least she didn’t miss out on a thrilling plot twist for the day!