The NHS as we knew it has gone – most probably for ever! Labour Shadow Secretary for Health, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will repeal the Health and Social Care Bill if he is Health Secretary in a Labour Government. He may mean it sincerely, but, whatever is salvaged, it will not be what it once was prior to 1st April 2013.
This is not privatisation through the back door. Far from it! The Coalition government has handed over the front door keys along with the security passwords to, well, virtually anyone who wants a slice of healthcare to go with truck loads of healthy profits.
Nye Bevan is now on full spin!
The NHS is dead! But we are still here.
Staff in the Health Service have to carry on. It is our responsibility to look after one another and, in doing that, look after the patients, and, in doing that, keep alive the founding social principles of the National Health Service.
Ambulance Services are also in the firing line of change. On the one hand deprived of millions of pounds in vital funding, and on the other, ordered to make ‘efficiency’ savings. Achieve the same targets with less staff, less money and increased calls.
Something has to give! What will it be: The Service, The staff , The patients?
The London Ambulance Service has at least recognised that problem and is still in discussions with commissioners for extra funds and extra staff. We are the Capital City’s emergency ambulance service and if we are allowed to disintegrate under the weight of the austerity measures and NHS cuts, what chance has any other Service in the UK?
We know that any extra funding and extra staff will come with conditions attached.  Conditions regarding the way we work and deliver our responses.
It is not a one way street however, as we also want to see changes:
We want to see a reduction in the workload for all staff.
We want to see EOC as a Control Room/s and not a pressure cooker.
We want to see a real work/life balance for all.
We want to see more ambulances out on the road.Â
We want to see proper staffing levels.
We want to see positive changes for Relief Staff.
We want to see A&E Support Staff getting more training and put in the appropriate Agenda for Change Pay Band.
We want to see the Private/Voluntary Ambulance Sector used as the exception, and not the norm, by the LAS.
So, by ‘old-fashioned’ trade union/management partnership and negotiation, we can all get to be where we want to be and make sure our ‘LAS Vision Statement’ is a living , true thing and not just words recited like a Catechism:
“To be a world-class service, meeting the needs of the public and our patients, with staff who are well-trained, caring, enthusiastic and proud of the job they do.”
It used to be said years ago that ambulance staff were the ambassadors of the National Health Service as we were the first point of contact that most patients saw. We were the human face (or voice in regard to EOC call taking staff) that gave first impressions of their NHS journey.
Let us not be seen as the undertakers and pall-bearers.
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Eric Roberts
Branch Secretary.
