Call to improve medical services at SWPL games after long injury delay at Aberdeen

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Becky Galbraith (obscured) receives treatment for a neck injuryImage source, BBC Sport
Image caption,

Becky Galbraith (obscured) received treatment for a neck injury

Spartans manager Debbi McCulloch is calling for an "urgent review" of medical provision at SWPL matches.

Her comments come after Becky Galbraith received on-pitch treatment for 27 minutes before being taken to hospital.

Spartans revealed the striker was concussed and suffered neck ligament damage in Sunday's loss at Aberdeen.

"If we're going to do things right, we need to ultimately make sure everyone is safe, or as safe as we can potentially make it," McCulloch said.

"We are asking for an urgent review of medical procedures at SWPL games. It's a bit hit or miss right now."

The Scottish Women's Premier League later released a statement highlighting league rules, which say it is the "responsibility of each of the clubs participating... to ensure that a qualified medical practitioner and a chartered physiotherapist or equivalent is present".

It also pointed out that each club must provide a minimum of two stretchers and four trained stretcher bearers.

Talking to BBC Scotland prior to the governing body's response, McCulloch said: "I was on a working group when we joined the SWPL and we spoke about this in depth. Everyone agreed that player and spectator welfare, if we're trying to grow the game, then everything has to be in place.

"I understand there's an affordability challenge. However, if a community club like Spartans is able to afford it then every other club should be doing exactly the same. My experience is that is not what is happening.

"When you're confronted with an injury like Becky's, it's not the responsibility of the physio to decide whether to move her.

"At Spartans, we make sure there's a paramedic or a club doctor. Ninety-nine per cent of the time it's a paramedic with a paramedic car or ambulance, which has oxygen, pain relief etc, that can be administered professionally. That gives us and the players a real sense of comfort.

"I just think we need to sit down and, instead of being like it's a financial challenge, lets just do it.

"If we come together, can we get the same organisation to provide the same cover across SWPL1 and 2 and maybe get a good price that makes it bit more affordable?

"Ask what are the challenges rather than wait for something to happen.

"I know we're growing at a fast rate and it's hard to keep up, but it's just something that we can't take a chance on.

"It has improved. There has been a dramatic improvement this season, but there's still a gap. It's far from perfect. We have to ensure that medical support is there."

Meanwhile, the SWPL said it was "working with both clubs to understand the circumstances around this incident".