South Western Ambulance staff to be balloted over policy change

The GMB union disputes new rules over where crews take their breaks

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 17th Apr 2024

Staff at the South Western Ambulance trust (SWAS) are to be balloted over a policy change.

It's about where crews take their breaks, which the GMB Union has described as 'discriminatory and dangerous'.

Paramedics are being asked to have their breaks in the nearest station to where they're working, and advised to carry food with them.

But the union's raised health and safety concerns - saying there's a risk of food poisoning, due to a lack of chilled storage, while loose food and drink containers could pose a danger when travelling at speed responding to an emergency.

David McMullen, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“GMB believes this new policy is discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010 - we've had this all but confirmed by SWAST’s Chief Executive Dr John Martin.

"Workers face late or non-existent breaks; crews are not allowed to stop until they hand over their patients, often 7 hours or more into their shifts or sometimes even an entire working day.

"There is a real concern from GMB members this will lead to physical and mental exhaustion putting patients at risk. Not only is this new policy discriminatory, it is also potentially unsafe.

“GMB has submitted grievances on behalf of our members who have said they require a reasonable adjustment, but despite multiple communications from us, the trust has continually failed to respond.

“If trust management doesn’t start engaging with us, I can only see this heading towards a strike which would see ambulance workers on the picket line.”

A ballot for industrial action is due to end on May 17th, and could then lead to a formal strike action ballot.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said:

“The rest breaks and end of shift arrangements policy was developed in response to overwhelming feedback from colleagues who told us finishing their shift on time was their priority. It was approved and came into effect following agreement with Unison, our recognised union.

“More of our frontline colleagues are finishing on time and more people are getting their breaks as a result. This is about ensuring our people are not put at undue risk through working excessive hours or without appropriate rest breaks, and to improve patient safety.

“We have more than 90 ambulance stations across the South West and the agreement is that colleagues will take their breaks at the nearest station that has space.

“We continue to work on refining and implementing the policy fully and are committed to responding fully to any colleagues who raises a concern. All requests for supportive measures and reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis.”

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