By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A senior NHS paramedic has been suspended for a year after a misconduct tribunal found he used official shifts to conduct a sexual affair with a colleague while attempting to hide it from his wife, who also worked for the same ambulance service.
Andrew Mackie, an award-winning clinical leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) since 1984, arranged clandestine meetings with a woman identified as Person A, also a paramedic, by parking at medical facilities near her home while on duty.
Tribunal details scheme and evidence
The Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) heard that Mackie and Person A coordinated their encounters around the schedules of two other SAS staff members, Persons B and C, to avoid detection. CCTV footage obtained by Police Scotland confirmed Mackie visited Person A’s home on two occasions while logged as on shift.
The affair involved explicit images, sex toys, and a fishnet bodysuit, according to testimony. Mackie was described as the driving force behind the sexual activity, and he altered his availability status to accommodate the visits, leaving his response vehicle unattended.
Allegations, arrests and regulatory action
The relationship ended acrimoniously, leading to mutual allegations. Both parties were arrested, but police dropped all charges. Mackie was dismissed by SAS in December 2025 and began a new role elsewhere in March 2026.
The tribunal suspended him for 12 months for visiting Person A while on duty, failing to notify his regulator about the charges, and dishonestly deleting emails related to the investigation. The panel concluded his judgment was clouded and his conduct incompatible with professional paramedic standards.
