GMB members at South West Ambulance Service open letter calling for Chief Executive to quit
The trust are failing to address major issues and the toll from not doing so is having an enormous effect upon increasing numbers of staff says GMB Southern
GMB members at South West Ambulance service have issued an open letter calling for the Chief Executive, Ken Wenman, to resign over the current situation in the service and the state of industrial relations. [See notes to editors for copy of the letter]
The letter, sent by ambulance professionals working for South Western Ambulance Service covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, North and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, is an apology to families, friends and the community.
The letter concludes with a call for support in calling for the resignation of the Chief Executive in order to protect patients and staff.
Gary Palmer GMB Regional NHS Campaign Organiser said:
“Although we are unfortunately regularly being contacted by members and concerned staff over any number of growing issues at SWAST, we felt this recent letter on behalf of a group of GMB members particularly summoned up the general despair and frustration many staff currently feel from working within a service and role they love.
“The trust are failing to address major issues and the toll from not doing so is having an enormous effect upon increasing numbers of staff, as they consider whether they wish to remain within this particular ambulance service or not.
“GMB and its members being ignored by the Chief Executive and the Trust is one thing, but their failing to be able to recognise the numerous issues and the effect they have upon many front line ambulance professionals within its own organisation and the patients they ultimate serve, means that Mr Wenman has clearly not only lost touch or interest with his employees and the service, but has now also lost their respect as well.
“It’s time for the Chief Executive to stand down and for any replacement to be clear on wanting to do more to protect and support the trust’s most valuable resource, its own staff. ”
ENDS
Contact: Gary Palmer on 07552 165950; Paul Maloney on 07801 343839 or Michelle Gordon on 07866 369259
Notes to editors:
1) Open letter from Ambulance professionals working for South Western Ambulance Service Trust
An apology from Ambulance staff to our families, friends and the community:
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you see an ambulance attending an incident what it might be like to work for the South Western Ambulance service?
Although we love what we do, behind the professional facade we portray to the public we are struggling to maintain a crumbling service deliberately being underfunded by the Government and made worse when those over pressured resources and stressed staff are then badly managed locally.
If you’re unfortunate enough to have to call us, please remember that although we will potentially often be the Deliverer of the First High Quality Care you receive in an accident or illness, we are not only not classified as an Emergency Service by the government but not appreciated or cared for by our employer.
We, as ambulance professionals, are trying to change that. Our Union, GMB, are trying to change that, but our employer and our Chief Executive are ignoring both our complaints and calls for change, so in order to explain to our families, friends and the public and even our employer SWAST we send out our heartfelt apologies:
To the Public:
We’re sorry for not getting to you or your loved ones quick enough because there are just not enough of us or we are called out to answer non-emergency calls.
We’re sorry for the patient and family members that have been left on the floor for hours as a consequence of not getting to you on time.
We’re sorry when you remain in the ambulance or in the hospital corridor for hours when we are stacked at A&E’s because we can’t complete our hand over.
We’re sorry that our employer is so poor in managing their resources that they are potentially putting your family at risk.
We’re sorry you sometimes feel the need to verbally abuse or physically threaten us while we treat your family and friends.
We’re sorry it appears that SWAST deployments and performance targets are more important than patient care.
We’re sorry if we arrive at your emergency at the end of a 12 hour shift and possible overrun if we are so tired we potentially fear making a wrong clinical decision.
To our Family and Friends:
We’re sorry for not being able to be there when you as family and friends need us.
We’re sorry for missing yet another family occasion.
We’re sorry we are refused annual leave when we want it meaning no family holiday once again.
We’re sorry yet another overrun has meant we are late home again.
We’re sorry kids that we couldn’t tuck you in and read you a story at bedtime.
We’re sorry for being so tired or stressed when we do finally get home.
We’re sorry for the occasions you’ll see us angry, frustrated, unhappy and sad.
We’re sorry when we witness yet another colleague’s relationship fail.
To SWAST:
We’re sorry for feeling unsupported by you, our employer.
We’re sorry when we are stretched ever more thinly across a greater area of deployment that we don’t hit your targets for reaching critically ill patients in time.
We’re sorry for being sick in an environment and workplace that doesn’t allow it.
We’re sorry for what must be our annoying constant requests for annual leave and you having to take the time to respond and refuse them.
We’re sorry for our claims of PTSD.
We’re sorry for appearing ungrateful that your recent rota review has in fact destroyed our work life balance even more beyond acceptable limits.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience when injuries at work happen.
We’re sorry if we appear concerned that we will not reach retirement age as a result of physical or psychological injury.
We’re sorry for not agreeing with the Chief Executive, and his teams ‘my way or the highway’ attitude towards us as staff.
And finally in closing:
We’re sorry for saying sorry, time and time again to all of you because nothing ever changes.
We’re sorry for having to write this.
We’re sorry for asking, but it’s time for everyone to support our call for the Chief Executive to stand down.
Regards
Concerned SWAST Ambulance Employees
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