Medics to face drug and drink tests at random
New rule for ambulance staff would be first in UK
YORKSHIRE’S AMBULANCE service could become the first in the country to introduce random drug and alcohol testing for its paramedics, The Yorkshire Post understands.
Union chiefs have told this newspaper that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust is now in talks to change its self-regulating stance on the issue, in a bid to win a lucrative patient transport service contract covering the whole of South Yorkshire.
While bus and train drivers are subjected to drug or alcohol tests, paramedics at YAS and similar NHS trusts are currently not.
Public service union Unison has warned that despite ongoing discussions, the introduction of the new testing policy could be inevitable.
Bryn Webster, the union’s branch secretary, said: “We are between a rock and a hard place.
“We don’t agree with random drug testing, but we are going to have to concede that they are going to bring it in without our consent. I believe this will be the first ambulance trust in the country to have random drug and alcohol testing.”
He said the South Yorkshire patient transport contract would be worth hundreds of jobs, but that a requirement of the contract was for random testing to be introduced to the workforce.
In a statement, YAS said it is currently “looking to introduce a Fitness for Work Policy”, but declined to comment on either the contract stipulations, or whether it intends to bring in random testing.
Mr Webster said: “There is no way that we can fight against it if there is the potential for losing jobs. We are in discussions to make the policy more palatable by reducing the percentage of tests and structure of the testing procedure.” He said the new testing policy could be brought in by the end of this month. One source told The Yorkshire
Post that the tests were being introduced because of concerns that some staff members at the trust could be using drugs or alcohol “as a prop” at work.
Mr Webster added: “Due to the stresses and strains of the job, the trust needs to understand that people might be driven to drink.
“Maybe they should sit down and think about the causes of this rather than looking at drug and alcohol testing. The job is getting more and more stressful so these problems will happen.”
A spokesperson for YAS said: “In common with a number of large public and private-sector organisations, YAS is looking to introduce a Fitness for Work Policy as part of its commitment to the wellbeing of its staff. This includes ensuring that any alcohol and drug-related issues are dealt with effectively and consistently and that managers have adequate training and support to deal with staff who are seeking help.
“The trust views alcohol and drug dependency as an illness and seeks to support anyone who may be affected. We are yet to agree specific details on how the policy will be implemented.”
PERHAPS THE most surprising aspect of Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s decision to consider introducing random drug and alcohol testing for its paramedics is that such checks are not already in place.
After all, bus and train drivers are already subject to tests, together with airline pilots, and those tasked with driving ambulances have an equally onerous responsibility. However, the majority of crews will have nothing to fear from such a policy.
This is why such checks are a key condition of a contract being sought by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to run patient transport services in the south of the county. If users of such services want such a reassurance, its up to the ambulance service to allay any concerns that exist.
And, as the first organisation of its type to consider such an approach, Yorkshire Ambulance Service – as a responsible employer – has an opportunity to shape this policy by making sure its staff have the necessary support in place to deal with the stresses of their job.
As a spokesman confirmed to The Yorkshire Post, it regards alcohol and drug dependency as an illness and seeks to support any staff member affected by this.
As always, early intervention is critical and the challenge now is persuading paramedics – and the health unions – that such an approach is, in fact, in the best interests of staff and patients alike.