Emergency call policy 'devastating to morale'

UNION stewards say ambulance staff are being blamed for a policy decision that prevents them from being contacted during meal breaks.

It comes after the death of Mandy Mathieson, 33, who suffered a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, in October last year.

The local on-duty technician did not respond to the call because he was on his tea break, and paramedics from Grantown-on-Spey, around 15 miles away, were dispatched instead. And in April, Crieff toddler Martyn Gray died when an ambulance was delayed.

Stewards at the GMB Scotland union complain that the current policy, which they say prevents staff being contacted on some breaks, has had a "devastating effect" on morale. They argue that the unpaid rest period was forced upon staff during restructuring, known as Agenda for Change.

Following a meeting in Dundee, Mick Conroy, of the union, said: "This meant that prior to Agenda for Change they could be disturbed during their meal break and such cases like Tomintoul and Crieff, which hit the headlines recently, would not have happened."

Mr Conroy said crews had "no knowledge" of emergency calls during unpaid rest breaks.

"Unfortunately the Scottish Ambulance Service's refusal to make this clear has resulted in crews being branded callous and with no conscience," he said, claiming that a new break system was being forced through, with a "paltry" annual payment of 250 and overtime.

A ambulance service spokesman said: "Following discussions with our staff side, we have made a formal proposal to address the meal break issue. We look forward to their formal response."

Last month First Minister Alex Salmond gave an assurance that changes would be made following the tragedies.