FIRE, police and paramedics unions have claimed single crew ambulances are putting patients at risk and causing delays in response times.

But Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) has dismissed the claims as absolute nonsense'.

The Police Federation, UNISON, which represents more than 600 ambulance service staff, and The Fire Brigades Union have joined forces to call for an improvement in the availability of traditional ambulances.

A recent reorganisation of the GWAS has seen a greater emphasis on more single "target-busting" ambulance response cars, which they claim has been achieved by decreasing the number of traditional ambulances.


"Negative impact"


UNISON, the FBU and the Police Federation have raised fears that the changes have seen increased delays in getting patients moved from incidents and are impacting negatively on the other 999 services.

UNISON branch chairman, Ian Whittern, said: "Although the arrival of a solo responder may stop the clock' as far as the government target is concerned, the patient may wait an inordinate amount of time before an ambulance arrives to convey them to hospital.

"At times when ambulance resources are limited, and outstanding 999 calls exceed available resources, solo responders often find themselves in an invidious position, and sometimes forced by necessity, to convey seriously ill patients in an inappropriate vehicle, and unable to closely monitor the patients condition as should occur.

"The availability of ambulance resources has a direct impact on the other 999 providers by tying up their resources at medical incidents."

The joint statement has been issued on behalf of the FBU, Avon and Somerset Police Federation and UNISON GWAS branch.


"Significant improvements"


In response to the claims, Steve West, the director of operations at GWAS, said: "It is absolute nonsense to suggest that we have reduced the number of ambulances that we have on the road. We have invested in new, extra, solo responders but we have not reduced the number of ambulances.

"We have made significant improvements in our performance over the last 12 months. We are extremely proud of our staff who have worked hard to improve the service to our patients."

Chris Jackson, Brigade Secretary of Avon Fire Brigades Union, said: "Our members work very closely with the staff of Great Western Ambulance Service and note the professional way that they carry out their duties toward the public.

"However we recognise that on occasions due to the ever-increasing workload on ambulance crews and the restricted financial resources afforded the service, crews sometimes are unable to meet the prescribed attendance times.

"These delays cause our members problems in that at times, fire service personnel are delayed at scene awaiting the arrival of ambulances.

"These occasions have caused fire service operations to be affected in as such resources are redirected to cover shortfalls of delayed fire crews."

The Unions of the three services are also calling on the Health Overview and Scrutiny committee to monitor more closely conveyance attendance times, irrespective of the response times published by the Trust.

8:17am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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