Latest Update
The UNISON position both locally and nationally has not changed. Staff being paid and trained to a Band 3 level should not be deployed on frontline duties.
Around the Country it would appear that some Trusts are supporting this view, they have put a hold on any further recruitment of ECAs/ASWs and are working towards either deploying them on intermediate tier type vehicles, or are up-skilling them to Tech level.
Other Trusts are intending to continue with recruitment and using them on frontline. The East of England Ambulance management have not yet signaled their intension's and we are hoping that sense prevails. We are shortly meeting the Trust to discuss their intension's and try to put together some guidance as to how the ASWs/ECAs that we currently have should be deployed, this may at least allow for some consistency.
UNISONs Ambulance Sector has written to all UK ambulance CEO's stating that unless all Trusts support the findings of the Fusion report, that they will be launching a public awareness and media campaign on this issue.
It is believed that management will be challenging us to provide evidence whereby patient care has been compromised by the use of these staff. As such we are encouraging staff to forward their views and experiences. Staff can email their experiences to asw@eeas-unison.com which will be treated in the strictest confidence. When providing your evidence, we will omit all personal data. Please do remember not to include any patient identifiable data in your emails though.
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