Leader: Cure to ambulance dispute triggers further ailments

Published on Thursday 19 January 2012 01:16

SOME common sense looks to have prevailed at last in the dispute over emergency responses during tea breaks by Scottish ambulance crews.

All three ambulance unions have agreed a new deal under which an additional 150 staff will be recruited at a cost of £5 million a year. In addition, ambulance staff currently working a 40-hour week, including 2.5 hours of unpaid breaks, will switch to a 37.5-hour working week, including rest periods. Further, staff will continue to receive a payment of £150 a month for the next five months while the new arrangements are put in place.

It has taken 15 bickering months for a settlement acceptable to ambulance crews to be agreed. The circumstances that prompted the dispute have appalled many: the death of Mandy Mathieson in the Speyside village of Tomintoul, following a refusal by ambulance staff just 800 yards away from her home to respond to an emergency call while on a tea break.

The terms at least address the issue of staff shortages and problems over emergency cover, in contrast to previous offers under which crews would have been given a large lump sum and a regular extra fee for provididng cover during rest breaks. For 15 months, the public has been left uncertain as to whether any emergency call from them might coincide with an ambulance tea break and result in a “no show”.

Both the nature of this dispute and its protracted length have damaged the public standing of ambulance drivers and done nothing to enhance the reputation of the NHS. Its resolution, and on terms which provide a long-term solution, are welcome. But in what other parts of the health service will budgets be cut to finance the £5m settlement of this dispute?

Not from benefits to GPs, it seems. Yesterday 130,000 doctors reaffirmed opposition to reforms to their pension plans, with some two-thirds, including a majority in Scotland, indicating support for some form of “industrial action”. While an all-out strike is not thought likely, the threat from the British Medical Association could see a form of work-to-rule and cancellation of some clinical procedures at weekends. Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, says doctors feel let down and betrayed. Changes to their pensions, he warns, could in the longer term cause damage to patient care and the loss of doctors from the NHS, as many may choose to retire early. Patients might draw the conclusion that early retirement is a luxury only afforded to those with already generous pension arrangements.

No-one doubts the professionalism or dedication of doctors. But they, of all people, must recognise that people are living longer, and that millions across the economy, in the public and private sectors, are having to raise their payments into pension schemes to cover costs. The organism that funds the NHS is not in a healthy state and GPs should be careful of straining it. Downing syringes is no solution.

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Teridoc

Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 10:37 PM

The Scotsman's coverage of the BMA Survey of members regarding pensions was very disappointing both in its (lack of) accuracy and in its analysis. Firstly, most importantly, this is not just about GPs but about all doctors, hospital and community. This is at best sloppy and misleading, and at worst politically motivated undermining of one side in a valid disagreement between the medical profession (and other NHS workers) and a Government prepared to lie to justify applying an unfair tax on NHS workers to raise money. The NHS pension Scheme is in surplus and will return £10 billion surplus to the government over the next 5 years. Please remember, NHS Pensions are not generous gifts from the government (or indeed the taxpayer) but deferred pay, contractual benefits, bought and fully paid for over a career of dedication to the NHS. Finally, the sideways and inaccurate comment "Patients might draw the conclusion that early retirement is a luxury only afforded to those with already generous pension arrangements" misses the point and illustrates both the common misunderstandings and the ludicrous unfairness in what the government is proposing. The reason doctors may choose to retire early is that they cannot afford to stay working, because (after pay freezes and income tax changes) the pension contributions are now being hiked so high. Simple maths - under the proposed changes, it will cost an extra 6% per year of income to stay at work to get a much reduced pension. It costs only 5% reduction per year of your current pension to retire and escape the NHS which this government seems to be determined to dismantle.

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johndog

Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Where are the haters, those who called ambulance staff money grabbing, lazy , immoral etc etc. ? By not accepting the bribes being offered by management the staff have negotiated a settlement which highlights the under-resourcing of the service and the need for rest breaks. Lets celebrate 150 new front line jobs to provide the people of Scotland with the service they deserve. And the Scotsman, your reporting of this issue has been disgraceful - "tea breaks", "ambulance drivers", etc. You swallowed the management spin hook line and sinker. Shame on you.

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samcoldstream

Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 10:40 AM

Contrary to what everyone claimed, this dispute was never about money. The SAS was treated as an "essential" public (underfunded and understaffed) service when long ago it should have been acknowledged that, like the Police and Fire Services, it was a full Emergency Service. This may explain the reason for the absence of posts from the usual critics. Yesterday, in the Scottish Parliament, an almost embarrassed Scottish Health Minister was forced to admit these facts.

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