AMBULANCE STAFF REJECT BREAKS DEAL

Union members have rejected the latest deal to resolve a dispute over rest breaks for ambulance staff.

Currently, ambulance crews take unpaid rest breaks, during which the control room does not contact them.

But recent controversies - such as the death of Mandy Mathieson, 33, who had a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, in 2010 - brought the policy into focus.

An ambulance technician was on a meal break and did not attend the emergency even though he was stationed near her home.

Last autumn, unions representing most ambulance staff in Scotland rejected a proposed deal for payment for working in rest breaks.

Union members have rejected the latest offer to reolve the dispute of break times

They were offered a lump-sum payment amounting to £4.80 per week to agree to be available during meal breaks and a payment of £100 on each occasion they are called out to respond to an emergency during an assigned meal break.

Emergency crews tested the proposals with a three-month trial period which started in October.

Union members were reballoted following the trial. Unison members have rejected the latest offer, with 65% of those returning a ballot voting against it.

Unison Scotland organiser David Forbes said: "This is fundamentally an issue of resourcing.

"Our members have been consistently telling us they need their uninterrupted rest breaks.

"They need to be able to switch off for a part of the day in order to deliver the best possible service for patients.

"We will be meeting with the employer on Monday and urging them to ensure that the ambulance service is sufficiently resourced to deliver the excellent service patients require and expect whilst allowing for decent treatment of staff."

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "A very good offer was made to staff and it is disappointing that this has been rejected.

"This is disappointing"

"We will meet with staff representatives on Monday to continue the dialogue in order to find a resolution."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This is disappointing - I have been very clear that I want this situation to be resolved as soon as possible.

"I am encouraged that a further meeting is due to take place on Monday and will continue to oversee all necessary action to ensure management and unions address this issue as a matter of urgency.

"I can confirm that the interim arrangements, which allow for SAS emergency tier staff to be disturbed during their rest break in the event of a 'category a' call, will continue until a longer-term solution is found. This is the best way to ensure that patient safety is protected."

Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: "It is ludicrous that the unions have rejected what was a fair and reasonable deal. This is blind self-interest and the general public will find it incredibly hard to understand why these workers are having tea breaks when people's lives are at stake.

"When someone is suffering from a serious injury or critical illness they cannot afford to wait to receive treatment, and yet these workers are insisting that they be allowed time to finish their meal break. This heartless attitude is costing lives and Nicola Sturgeon needs to get a grip on this issue and thrash out a deal to prevent any further tragedies.

"While the fantastic work of our emergency service staff is always appreciated, this dispute has been dragging on for far too long and needs to be resolved."


PA