Cuts and de-recognition pointed up

Yorkshire paramedics lobbied MPs on 20 November over funding cuts to the ambulance service and de-recognition of their union, Unite, by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Unite says its dispute with the trust, which continues to recognise the UNISON union, centres on planned budget cuts of £46 million over the next five years — despite increased ambulance workloads. The union’s head of health, Rachael Maskell, said the aim of the lobby was to highlight very real concerns about patient safety in Yorkshire, as the trust’s proposals mean the removal of a number of skilled technician staff from ambulances.

“They are being replaced by emergency care assistant roles (ECAs) who are being given only six weeks training — only half of which is in clinical skills,” she said. She contrasted that with expert clinical advice from Bruce Keogh, NHS medical director, promoting the use of more highly qualified paramedics.

The union is calling for more training for the ECAs but says it is also concerned at the increasing use of private ambulance firms to “plug the gaps” in NHS 999 responses.