Ambulance staff to vote on strikes over ‘life-threatening’ lack of rest time

Scotland could face a ­widespread ambulance strike after the biggest union for emergency crews announced it will begin ­voting on industrial action to secure rest breaks and protect patients within days.

The ballot comes as paramedics warn lives could be lost because of tiredness and stress caused by missed or interrupted breaks.

The workers fear the safety of staff, patients and other road users is being risked because of the gruelling, non-stop shifts.

Staff unions will open a ballot on industrial action on Wednesday as GMB Scotland, the biggest union in the Scottish Ambulance Service, warns crews are being pushed too far.

GMB Scotland organiser Karen Leonard said crews are regularly required to work nine or 10 hours without a break.

She said: “Ambulance crews routinely deliver life-saving care under hugely stressful conditions and need to be properly rested.

“They are driving under blue-lights, diagnosing patients and administering drugs. Clearly, they must be mentally alert and physically fresh. The pressures of the job are relentless and proper breaks must be ring-fenced in their shift.”

Crews are entitled to a 45-minute break in a 12-hour shift but are often asked to work through it or cut it short.

GMB Scotland is urging managers to introduce and enforce rotas ensuring no ambulance crew member is asked to work more than six hours without a break that could only be interrupted to respond to a life-threatening call.

Leonard said the issue has been raised repeatedly with management in recent years but long-running talks have not eased the workload.

She said: “Our members are literally exhausted but also tired of the failure to address their concerns not least because of the obvious risks to the welfare of staff and the safety of patients.

“Proper breaks must be an essential and secure part of every shift.”

GMB Scotland said crews were encouraged to work through breaks during the Covid pandemic because of the national emergency but the pressure has never eased.

Giving evidence to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, the union told how the ambulance service was short-staffed because workers were ill, shielding or had care duties, meaning crews were encouraged to work through breaks and postpone annual leave.

One paramedic in a busy station in central Scotland said crews had become increasingly frustrated by the failure to restore breaks once Covid was over.

She said: “Like everybody else, we were worried during Covid but we didn’t have the option of working from home.

“We were promised high-quality personal protection equipment that never arrived.

“We were promised we would get our annual leave back if we postponed it but that turned into a struggle.

“We were promised having to work through breaks was only an emergency measure and would end after Covid.

“Five years on, we are still waiting to take our breaks.

“We hear so much talk about how we much we are valued but talk doesn’t help when you’ve been on the go non-stop for seven, eight, nine hours and you’ve just got another emergency call.”

GMB Scotland will launch its consultative vote on Wednesday while Unite and Unison are also expected to ballot their ambulance service members.

Another ambulance crew member said dealing with stressful situations was part of the job but tiredness made ­everything more challenging.

He said: “We need to make clinical judgments, quickly and under a lot pressure, but it’s like any other job – if you are exhausted the chance of an error is going be higher.

“Breaks aren’t some kind of luxury, something nice to have on a quiet shift. Pilots and lorry drivers are not allowed to just keep going on and on, so why are we?

“Rest is needed to make sure we are able to do our job properly but management clearly don’t get it or this would be sorted by now.

“Everyone understands that breaks will be interrupted if a life-threatening call comes in. That goes without saying but we are missing breaks all the time for no good reason. It puts us driving on blue lights at risk, other road users at risk and patients at risk.

“This isn’t about us, it’s about everyone.”

The risk of industrial action comes as other public sector workers threaten strikes over pay. Unions balloting on a 3% offer from Cosla, representing Scotland’s local authorities, revealed an overwhelming majority of council workers willing to take action in support of a 6.5% pay claim with strikes being discussed with potential to disrupt frontline services.

The Scottish Government said: “We value the tremendous job our ambulance service staff do in what can be exceptionally challenging circumstances.

“We encourage the Scottish Ambulance Service to support staff, prioritise their wellbeing and ensure staff receive rest breaks within the appropriate timescales.

“We are actively working with all parties to seek a resolution.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressure facing our staff as a result of wider NHS demand and delays in handovers at hospitals.

“We know that, on occasion, ambulance crews like many other NHS staff are not able to take breaks in optimum conditions, which is why we have engaged with staff-side colleagues on this matter and continue to explore a range of options in a bid to reach a constructive solution.

“We would encourage continued discussions so that we can find a suitable resolution.”