Western Isles HVDC Link project workforce supports emergency response in Highlands
24 July 2026
- Spark Medical Ltd provides on-site care while strengthening out-of-hours emergency response in remote areas
- Rapid response to road traffic incident highlights value of additional emergency support in local communities
Image: From left to right: John Currie (SSEN Transmission HSE Advisor), Ieuan Gittings (Spark Medical Ltd Head of Service - Scotland), Tom Feeney and Kyle Boyd (Site Medics, Spark Medical Ltd)
A company providing medical support for workers on our Western Isles HVDC Link project is also offering vital out-of-hours assistance to local ambulance crews responding to emergencies in remote areas of the Highlands.
Spark Medical Ltd, a veteran‑owned business staffed by former military combat medics, provides on‑site emergency care to support workforce safety during working hours. The company is currently supporting the workforce delivering the mainland cable section of the Western Isles HVDC Link between Dundonnell and Beauly.
Backed by SSEN Transmission and our contractor RJ McLeod, Spark Medical Ltd has signed up to GoodSAM, a voluntary app-based initiative that helps provide additional medical support in remote areas where response times can be affected by geography and distance.
The team have already been called into action, responding to a serious road traffic collision involving a cyclist on the A832 near Dundonnell earlier this year. RJ McLeod took the decision to pause site activity to allow the on-site medic to attend, even though the team are typically unavailable to respond to off-site emergencies during working hours. This quick recognition of the seriousness of the incident allowed the medic to reach the scene within minutes and begin treatment before ambulance crews arrived.
The cyclist suffered a serious arm injury with internal bleeding, and the rapid response proved critical in preventing a more severe outcome. Ambulance crews attending the incident praised the swift intervention.
The team has already provided more than 100 hours of out-of-hours community availability through GoodSAM and has built strong relationships with local NHS, fire and rescue, and mountain rescue teams to raise awareness of their capabilities and strengthen collaboration.
Spark Medical Ltd is now exploring ways to expand its community support further, including delivering first aid and community training sessions.
Ieuan Gittings, Head of Service for Scotland for Spark Medical Ltd, said:
“We’re set up to provide high-quality emergency care in remote and challenging environments and that’s why we have signed up to the GoodSam app, which allows us to provide additional medical support outside our core on-site responsibilities.
“The recent incident involving an injured cyclist shows the real difference that early, on-the-ground medical support can make in remote areas, and we were glad to play our part in ensuring a less serious outcome.
“We’ve also had great engagement with local NHS teams, fire and rescue and mountain rescue, and we’re keen to build on that. Looking ahead, we’re exploring how we can do more locally, including offering first aid training and sharing our expertise with the community.”
Niall Macleod, Project Director for SSEN Transmission, said:
“Safety is our top priority, and Spark Medical Ltd plays a vital role in supporting our workforce delivering the mainland cable section of the Western Isles HVDC Link.
“We’re pleased to support their involvement in the GoodSAM scheme, enabling their highly skilled team to provide additional emergency assistance to local communities outside of working hours.
“As recent events show, their expertise and rapid response capability are making a real difference, supported by our contractors RJ McLeod. It’s a strong example of how the project can deliver wider benefits beyond our core activities."