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Survey conducted by GMB trade union finds ‘toxic culture’ at South East Coast Ambulance Service

A damning survey has heard of a 'boys’ club' culture and toxic environment for workers at the ambulance service which serves Kent and its nearby counties.

Trade union GMB, which conducted the survey on almost 900 members employees at the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), says the results are “deeply concerning”.

A SECAmb facility in Bredgar Road, Gillingham. Picture: SECAmb
A SECAmb facility in Bredgar Road, Gillingham. Picture: SECAmb

SECAmb, which employs more than 4,000 people across sites in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, acknowledges there are issues that need addressing, but questions how the survey was carried out.

A number of issues were raised in the survey, the main five, GMB says, being discrimination towards female staff members, sexual harassment, bullying, staff being scared to speak out and what is being called the ‘boys’ club’ culture.

The workplace was described as “very male dominant” and a “toxic environment”.

Results showed more than a quarter of people surveyed - equating to more than 200 people - said they have experienced bullying at work.

GMB's regional organiser, Gary Palmer, said: “GMB carried out this survey as we have heard from our members that the culture within SECAmb was not conducive to a healthy working environment.

GMB regional organiser, Gary Palmer. Picture: Gary Palmer/X
GMB regional organiser, Gary Palmer. Picture: Gary Palmer/X

“We were genuinely not expecting the results to be quite so shocking..

“The members’ testimony made very difficult reading at times and the overall message was deeply concerning."

More than 50% of members took time off at SECAmb due to a work-related issue, of which 40% said this was due to stress and 20% due to mental health.

Meanwhile, 51% admitted they did not feel supported by the trust.

The union is calling for the chief executive Simon Weldon to commission an independent investigation as a matter of urgency.

GMB Members of SECAmb have reported bullying and discrimination towards female employees. Picture: Cameron Walker
GMB Members of SECAmb have reported bullying and discrimination towards female employees. Picture: Cameron Walker

A SECAmb spokesperson said: "We absolutely recognise that as a trust and as a wider ambulance sector, we have issues we need to address.

"We have been very open about these and are working hard, with our people, to address them.

"We are also committed to working in partnership with our unions on these and other issues.

"However, we have some very real queries about the credibility of this survey.

"[It] was completed last summer, [and] it is unclear actually how many people completed it and if you look at the questions, you will see it's not very subjective.

"Interestingly, there were even strong comments from their own members at the time regarding the wording of the survey and who refused to complete it."

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