Ambulance workers in East among those left feeling 'overwhelmed'
Unison's found emotional breakdowns, sleep problems and mood swings were among issues reported by staff struggling across the country
Last updated 27th Apr 2022
Ambulance workers in the East are among those being "overwhelmed" and suffering from stress when they finish their shifts because of the pressures they are facing, according to a trade union report.
Unison said its research revealed that emotional breakdowns, sleep problems, mood swings and the use of anti-depressants were among the issues reported by staff who have been dealing with "unprecedented" demand for months across the country.
The union said staff shortages, lack of capacity in hospitals due to Covid and long-term underfunding have all contributed to "major problems" over the past few months.
Three out of four, of more than 1,100 staff in various ambulance services roles across the UK who were surveyed said stress and pressure in their services has increased since pre-Covid days.
Over half said they felt "overwhelmed" by work and a similar proportion were struggling to cope with the demands of their jobs.
Of those ambulance workers who reported feeling stressed, three in five voiced concern that ambulances were taking too long to reach people in need.
More than half said long handovers outside hospitals were putting patient lives at risk.
More than one in four said they were using medication such as anti-depressants and over a third revealed they have taken time off work sick.
Here are just some of the comments from ambulance workers who took part in the survey included:
"My family feel like they never see me and when they do, I'm too mentally and physically exhausted"
-"I'm dreading coming in to work and spending time sitting in the 'car park' outside my emergency department."
"I don't think people can live like that for too long"
Sam Older represents Unison in the East, he told us that heightened demand is having a serious effect on staff which isn't sustainable: "When they are waiting because there's no clinician who they can safety transfer a patient to, they are having to wait behind another ambulance who's also waiting, and sometimes another ambulance behind that as well.
"That is a really frustration of our members and it gets to them mentally.
"I don't think people can live like that for too long, not knowing when they're going to finish work because they are queuing up and can't do the job they want to do.
"Something desperately needs to be done, because for both patients and our members it's going to be a real difficult few months.
"Last month was the highest number of calls and the longest waiting times since 2017".
He went on to say there's a real threat that many could leave for another job: "There are a lot of options for staff who have paramedic science degree qualifications to potentially work in primary care, where they can work less stressful times in a primary care network because of the shortage of nursing staff, where these networks are advertising for either nurses or paramedics".
Mr Older says the Government must act quickly to tackle this: "There's been years of inadequate investment, it's left services more stretched. We think this is dangerous to the patients and our members, the staff.
"So, recruiting and retaining staff is something that needs to be looked at.
"Then they need to also consider things like an above inflation pay rise which is really needed during the on-going Cost of living crisis".
"We have provided an extra £55 million to boost ambulance staff numbers in control rooms"
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We recognise the pressure NHS staff are under, especially those on the frontline in the ambulance service, and we continue to thank them for their dedicated hard work.
"We have provided an extra £55 million to boost ambulance staff numbers in control rooms and on the frontline on top of our Covid recovery plan - backed by record funding.
"Through the NHS People Plan all NHS staff have access to a comprehensive emotional, psychological, and practical support package including 40 mental health and wellbeing hubs which provide proactive outreach, rapid assessment and referral onto specialist support where needed."