Downgrading 999 Calls Risks Lives say Unite
There are claims that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service is putting lives at risk by downgrading 999 calls. Unite have obtained figures through a Freedom of Information request, showing almost 11,000 emergency calls were downgraded between January and December 2014. Despite the downgrades, the union says YAS still failed the national target of reaching 75% “Red emergencies” within 8 minutes last year. Their figures show that between October 2013 and October 2014, YAS couldn’t reach that target in 11 out of 12 months. They met the target in January. Unite claim that paramedics, who are members of the union, have been prevented from speaking out about their concerns. The union’s also criticising YAS’s application to become a foundation trust, saying it would give the board more powers to increase the pay of senior management, the ability to borrow money and the right to generate up to 49% of its revenue from private income. Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: “What Unite has uncovered is absolutely alarming. There needs to be a thorough investigation into allegations that the service could be gambling with people’s lives. Senior management at the Yorkshire Ambulance Services have a record of systemic failure, incompetence and are mired in allegations of cover-ups. “Despite its failings, YAS is brazenly attempting to become a foundation trust which would give the board greater powers, including the authority to increase the pay of senior management, the ability to borrow money and the right to generate up to 49 per cent of their revenue from private income. “Unlike other ambulance trusts and foundation trusts, the senior management of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service have refused to disclose their full business plans for the next five years. That is because what they contain will cause public outrage throughout Yorkshire and Humberside. Staff numbers are to be slashed by over 10 per cent, the fleet is to be slashed by over 15 per cent and closures of ambulance stations are planned.” Ian Brandwood, Executive Director of People and Engagement at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “We continue to strongly refute the misleading claims of Unite the Union, which represents just 8% of our workforce. Their on-going campaign to try and discredit the organisation and the work of our highly-skilled and dedicated staff is purely about formal recognition at the Trust and is not in the best interests of patients. “We don’t agree with the serious allegations relating to the accuracy of our emergency call coding and financial accounts, which are both regularly audited by external bodies and have been signed off with high assurance. In July 2013, the Care Quality Commission carried out a complete audit of call performance and concluded it was exemplary.
"This was followed by two further independent audits in 2014 from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and NHS West Yorkshire Audit Consortium, both of which were completely satisfied with the processes in place and verified that we use the same national protocols as other English ambulance services. “In 2013 the Trust was awarded the Accredited Centre of Excellence status from the International Academies of Emergency Medical Dispatch for our emergency call handling and dispatch. At this time we were one of only 174 emergency services accredited internationally. * * “With regard to claims about preventing staff from raising issues, this couldn’t be further from the truth. We have a comprehensive whistleblowing policy in place and encourage staff to use that avenue in absolute confidence. We certainly do not silence our staff. “Unite is consistently promoting sensational allegations without sharing their evidence. We have asked Unite on numerous occasions to raise their specific concerns with us and they have failed to do so.”