A third of ambulance workers have been involved with cases where a patient’s death was linked to delay, according to an exclusive GMB Union survey for ITV.[1]
The findings of the poll, shown in ITV’s Tonight programme tomorrow [28 July 2022], also reveal
· 85% of ambulance workers have witnessed delays which have seriously affected a patient’s recovery
· 82% feel the current pressure puts them at an unacceptable level of stress
· 72% of ambulance workers have considered leaving the service
The show - 999: A National Emergency? - sees Paul Brand given access to the NHS frontline, joining paramedics on blue light call outs and hearing how they work long shifts and battle excessive waits outside hospital A&Es.
Recent GMB research shows ambulance calls have almost doubled to 14 million a year since 2010.
The Union has long campaigned for proper, long-term investment in the ambulance service, including increased staffing and a real terms pay rise for ambulance workers.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer said:
“These horrifying figures confirm exactly what GMB members are telling us.
“A decade of savage cuts, an explosion in demand and ambulance workers leaving in droves has left the service on the edge of disaster.
“Public services have been slashed across the board, leaving ambulance workers desperately trying stem the flow of humanity.
“Our members face unbelievable stress and even abuse, while demand is rising ten times faster than resources.
“We urgently need proper long-term investment -primarily in the workers themselves – before even more lives are lost.”
