Commenting on the findings of the independent review of the culture in ambulance services published on February 15th, 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.
