NUMBER OF 999 CREWS QUITTING AT 5-YEAR HIGH
Unions say paramedic figures highlight long-standing crisis
THE number of paramedics quitting their posts is at a five-year high, it has been revealed.
Last year, 64 stopped working with the Scottish Ambulance Service – compared with 56 in 2020 and 46 in 2018.
Unions warned of burnout as the Covid pandemic piled pressure on the stretched service.
Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser, called the figures “a conservative analysis”, adding that the true picture on the frontline was “far more critical”.
She added: “Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to a crisis that’s been years in the making. A good place to start a recovery is for the Government and management to work with our members properly to address the service challenges, rather than spinning plates in the hope of keeping an emergency service on life support.”
The Unite union said there “is nothing in place to prevent burnout, despite the SAS being made aware in various forums”.
A spokesman added that a survey of staff had revealed they felt “undervalued and fatigued” and that “morale has collapsed”. Overall 258 staff left or changed jobs at the SAS in 2021, a freedom of information request by the Press Association revealed.
The service said the numbers may include staff who had switched to another role.
The SAS said in November it would accelerate recruitment, with 356 staff joining by March.
The service has been under pressure in recent months and long waits for ambulances prompted the Scottish Government to call in the Army and firefighters. Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Our NHS needs an ambitious plan for recovery that makes the serious and sustained investment in services that are needed.”
An SAS spokeswoman said: “Since 2017 there has been a minimal increase in the number of frontline staff who have moved position … or have left.
“This coincides with an increase in total workforce numbers, from 4620 in June 2017 to 6227 in June 2021.”