Category: ambulance workers

Ambulance workplace culture needs to change

Commenting on the findings of the independent review of the culture in ambulance services published today (Thursday), UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:

“All too often ambulance workers are expected to be superhuman and put up with whatever is thrown at them.

“But the reality is that there’s a huge personal cost if employees are mistreated at work. Stress and burnout are rife, which prompts experienced staff to leave, worsening the situation for the colleagues they leave behind and the public.

“Trusts mustn’t lose sight of the way staff are treated, even at times of huge pressure on the service.

“The report is right to recognise that ambulance trusts should be measured on how they support the workforce, not just on operational targets.

“Harassment and bad behaviour must be investigated and dealt with promptly, and staff should be encouraged to share all their concerns. Sustained funding is also needed to ensure the health and wellbeing of the whole ambulance workforce.

“Better training for managers to help them give the right support to staff is a must. But so is long-term investment in services to make sure they’ve enough people to do such vital jobs.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ambulance workplace culture needs to change first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ambulance workplace culture needs to change

Commenting on the findings of the independent review of the culture in ambulance services published today (Thursday), UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:

“All too often ambulance workers are expected to be superhuman and put up with whatever is thrown at them.

“But the reality is that there’s a huge personal cost if employees are mistreated at work. Stress and burnout are rife, which prompts experienced staff to leave, worsening the situation for the colleagues they leave behind and the public.

“Trusts mustn’t lose sight of the way staff are treated, even at times of huge pressure on the service.

“The report is right to recognise that ambulance trusts should be measured on how they support the workforce, not just on operational targets.

“Harassment and bad behaviour must be investigated and dealt with promptly, and staff should be encouraged to share all their concerns. Sustained funding is also needed to ensure the health and wellbeing of the whole ambulance workforce.

“Better training for managers to help them give the right support to staff is a must. But so is long-term investment in services to make sure they’ve enough people to do such vital jobs.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ambulance workplace culture needs to change first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Ambulance workers will walk out on Wednesday – and I’ll be out on the picket with them

Our next strike days in the NHS will go ahead on Wednesday 11thJanuary and Monday 23rd January, despite last minute talks between UNISON, other health unions and the secretary of state for health and social care.

Our head of health, Sara Gorton, was at the meeting and was interviewed by the press immediately afterwards. Sara explained how the government has moved from the position they’ve held for months, but there was a lack of clarity or concrete proposals and so our strike on Wednesday is still on.

Of course, our industrial action could have been avoided entirely if the government had opened up pay negotiations with us, and other health unions, months ago. But their continued refusal had led us to our first round of industrial action in December.

Despite almost daily news coverage of the problems in the NHS and the harm this is causing to patients, the Prime Minister and his government are failing to get to grips with this crisis and the cost of living crisis. They’re also failing to respond to the needs of hardworking NHS staff, by coming up with no solution to this dispute. And that’s being generous of me.

But with your action, perhaps they’re starting to get it. We are clear, that until they deliver a pay boost for NHS workers for 2022/23, this dispute will not be resolved.

Ambulance workers in five regions will walk out on Wednesday and I’ll be out on the picket lines to show striking health workers that UNISON is 100% behind them. And here’s how you can show your support too. Our guide gives you five quick ways you can show your solidarity to striking ambulance workers.

Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s our union’s commitment to fighting for decent public services across the UK, and for better working lives for the people who deliver them, that drives our work and collective action. Without a well-paid, valued and supported workforce, the NHS cannot deliver the quality of care that patients need. Our members’ livelihoods, and the future of our NHS, are always worth fighting for.

The article Blog: Ambulance workers will walk out on Wednesday – and I’ll be out on the picket with them first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON ambulance workers share heartbreaking stories of wait times

Two UNISON members have appeared on a powerful ITV report into ambulance waiting times.

Senior paramedic and UNISON branch chair Glenn Carrington (pictured above), who has worked for the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) for almost 30 years, described how dire the situation has become.

“We’re spending so much time sat outside the hospital. The record so far is 10 and a half hours.

“Literally 10 and a half hours with our patient in the back of our vehicle, unable to move into the hospital.”

When ITV health editor Emily Morgan asked: “Did that patient deteriorate?” Mr Carrington responded: “They always deteriorate.

“We’ve had a few people die in the back of our ambulances. And the guilt you feel, the anger, the frustration. I can’t put it into words, it’s heartbreaking.”

Recent statistics show that 1 in 10 ambulances wait more than an hour to admit patients to hospital. This is a steep increase since 2019, when the figure was 1 in 50. 

However, there are also significant delays in getting ambulances out to patients in the first place.

Reena Farrington

Reena Farrington, in an interior, wearing her ambulance service uniform

UNISON staff chair and call supervisor Reena Farrington from the West Midlands Ambulance Service was also interviewed. She has worked for the service for 23 years.

Ms Farrington described how she often leaves work for the day, only to find the same patients waiting the next morning when she comes back to work: “That’s if they make it through the night.”

She broke down in tears after describing how people have died while waiting for an ambulance.

UNISON national officer Alan Lofthouse said: “Because there’s no real response from government to solve the problem, it feels like the individual workers are taking that on.

“We hear of people who go to work who have to sit in their car in tears, or people in control centres who take calls and have to go and cry in the toilet because they feel so much pressure themselves.”

View the full ITV report

The article UNISON ambulance workers share heartbreaking stories of wait times first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Newly qualified paramedics enjoy UNISON-won pay boost

Many newly qualified paramedics in the East of England are beginning to see an increase in their pay this month after fighting together for better banding.

UNISON supported staff to put a collective grievance in against the trust over the newly qualified paramedic (NQP) role. When the role was introduced in 2016, it was agreed that NQPs would be on band five for a two-year “consolidation of learning” period to display the knowledge, in order to go up to band six.

NQPs complained that there were unfair and unnecessary delays to the process that were leaving them out of pocket.

The difference between band five and the bottom of band six is around £3,500 after five years.

UNISON reps were able to start negotiations with the trust to sort out the issue.

Managers agreed that all cases would be individually reviewed by a board made up of representatives of the trust and UNISON, which could accelerate paramedics through band six if delays were not their fault and they can show an attempt to progress.

Progress is also being made on speeding medical technicians and apprentices through pay grades where they should be on higher point in their band.

UNISON EEAS acting convenor Hugo Brice said: “This is great news for hundreds of newly qualified paramedics at the East of England Ambulance Service who were losing out on pay rise due to delays not of their making.

“The credit for leading on this issue really needs to go to Ben, a representative from Hertfordshire.

“By standing together in UNISON and forcing the employer to act, we’re putting thousands of pounds into ambulance workers’ pockets. It shows once again how important it is to join your union and get involved to make change for the better.”

The article Newly qualified paramedics enjoy UNISON-won pay boost first appeared on the UNISON National site.