Union calls for action on ‘bullying’ at South East Coast Ambulance Service

The GMB union have called on the government to intervene on bullying claims at South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) and a news report by the Daily Telegraph has described a ‘culture of bullying’, claiming workers are being subjected to harassment and abuse.

A number of 999 call handlers said that they were under so much pressure that they were unable to focus on emergency calls, and two attempted suicide.

GMB’s regional organiser Gary Palmer, said “Workplace bullying is bad enough at any time, but the scale and intensity of the bullying endured by staff at Coxheath is shocking.”

The issue of bullying at Secamb has been highlighted by the CQC, with listed requirements including “improving internal avenues for serious concerns to be raised”, together with a structured support framework for staff.

Secamb have stated that the newspaper report concerned ‘historic allegations’ and that the majority of issues had been dealt with.

A spokesperson for Secamb said “The article in The Telegraph covers a range of historic allegations, most of which have been investigated and dealt with.

“Others are unsubstantiated, with no evidence to support them.

“We take the issue of bullying and harassment very seriously and have been working hard to address this area of concern.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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