‘Chaos’ as more 999 workers facing discipline

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that 109 employees were subject to disciplinary action – more than triple the numbers for 2011.

Of those, 55 were dismissed from the service, almost double the 29 employees sacked following disciplinary action during the financial year 2012/13.

The statistics also point to a rise in staff being disciplined for breaching the trust’s social media policy. Union leaders and frontline staff have laid the blame for the rise at YAS’s door, citing cuts to staff numbers and changes to conditions, saying that a reduction in qualified paramedics and a rise in emergency care assistants (ECAs), who have just six weeks of basic first aid training, has increased pressure. The changes helped to save £9m from its budget.

Employees who have suffered emotional and physical breakdowns as they struggle to cope with the impact of cuts are being hauled before disciplinary boards, according to Unite.

“In the last 12 months disciplinary cases have doubled as a direct result of staff having to work extended shifts, being unable to take appropriate meal and rest breaks and suffering breakdowns because they have been left incapable of doing their job,” said Terry Cunliffe, Unite’s regional organiser.

“Paramedics do the job because they want to help people. Employees are absolutely devastated by what’s going on. They’re disheartened, disillusioned and in some cases they are leaving because they just can’t do it any more.”

Only a small number of “key staff” at YAS have been given social media training. The trust held a training course in 2012 at a cost of £940 and a workshop at a cost of £600 was held this year, according to the Freedom of Information Act figures.

A YAS paramedic, who did not wish to be named, told The Yorkshire Post: “Things are in chaos. Staff are telling the senior managers what is happening but they’re more concerned with meeting targets.”

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “We are unable to comment on any specific cases of disciplinary action taken against members of staff. Where social media activity by staff is in contravention of the policy cases are judged on an individual basis and appropriate sanctions are imposed. Patient confidentiality is of utmost importance in all of our work.”

The news comes after months of unrest which has witnessed staff shortages and failures to meet call-outs on time. Industrial action is set to take place this week from YAS 350 Unite members, in protest against the trust’s decision to derecognise the union.

In 2011-12, 31 staff faced disciplinary action, 23 were dismissed and four cases related to social media, In 2013-14, 109 faced action, 55 were dismissed and nine related to social media.