UNISON Files Dispute Proceedings
UNISON, has demanded an immediate inquiry into the use of student paramedics on front-line ambulances by the East of England Ambulance Trust last Friday and Saturday.
UNISON says that the decision by the EEAS to ‘volunteer’ the students had stunned ambulance staff across the region. Some students had refused to take the risk and that some managers had objected to the move ‘in the strongest possible terms’, even refusing to work with the inexperienced students.
It was further revealed that, while ambulance bosses were willing to interrupt the studies of student paramedics this weekend, a number of other student paramedics were already the subject of disciplinary proceedings for not sufficiently completing their studies.
UNISON says that a full inquiry into the Trust’s actions is needed because last weekend was not in any way exceptional and if the Trust cannot put qualified crews on ambulances now, then very shortly, with the full onset of the Swine Flu pandemic, then service may simply not cope.
As such, UNISON has lodged formal Dispute Proceedings with the Chief Executive. In addition, UNISON is supporting members from Cambridgeshire who are submitting a collective grievance over being asked to work with such inexperienced staff members.
Whilst all of this action is in no way designed to reflect on the students themselves, it has been a necessary move by UNISON to protect the wider staff base.
Further details will follow.
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