by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

A chaplain has accused ambulance bosses of being indifferent to the needs of their front-line staff and not taking their concerns seriously.

It is the latest development in the changes being introduced by the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust whereby Dover crews will start and finish their shifts at Ashford, and the ambulance station in the town will be downgraded to a response post.

The Rev Peter Sherred, who has been an ambulance chaplain at Dover for nearly 10 years, has raised the staff’s concerns in the past, but says he has not received satisfactory replies from the trust.

Speaking at the Dover Deanery Ecumenical Service at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday – which was also attended by an ambulance crew in their own time – Mr Sherred said he had the utmost respect for the paramedics and ambulance technicians.

"Morale is low," he said. "But their dedication and commitment have no equal.

"These people spend almost 12 hours in their cabs and they never know what they will meet. The ambulance service is no longer a taxi service to hospital although members of the public seem to think so. It is a sophisticated and expensive service in the NHS whose front-line crews deliver the service we require and do so magnificently.

"Staff are abused by the public, by patients and, sadly, in my opinion, by their own employers who do not seem to take their concerns seriously."

All Dover crews are due to be switched to the "make ready" depot at Ashford from November 17.

Mr Sherred had called for the depot to be sited in Dover and had urged the town and district councils, the MP and others to support him.

Otherwise, he said, he feared that resources and facilities would be downgraded.

In a statement, the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said it was aware of the concerns raised by Mr Sherred and was looking to address them.

“The trust recognises the impact the new Make Ready Centre in Ashford will have on some staff. SECAmb has been engaging and working closely with staff side representative and staff to minimise the impact.

“The Make Ready system offers significant benefits for not only patients but staff as well. It will offer opportunities for greater rota flexibility, greater access to managers and most importantly more time spent treating patients.”

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.

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