Graham Stuart MP has said that senior figures at Yorkshire Ambulance Service “need to get their facts straight” about the service’s position on the use of private ambulances.
Over the weekend Graham condemned the trade union UNISON, which is blocking the use of private ambulances by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) – despite ambulance shifts not being covered across the region and worsening response times to emergency call-outs in rural areas.
Last week, Graham spoke to YAS Chief Executive David Whiting, who told him repeatedly that private ambulances were not being used because of concerns about the quality of service on offer – rather than because of any external pressure.
However, a UNISON internal document from last summer states that following “heated” discussions, the YAS Trust “has agreed to start reducing the use of private providers immediately by 50% and stop using them completely by the 1st October 2013.” The statement went on to warn, “We will instigate a massive campaign should the Trust fail to honour their commitment.”
Graham has been told by a senior manager at YAS that the service has “capitulated” to UNISON. It has been confirmed independently to Graham that UNISON are threatening a strike ballot over the continued use of some private ambulances.
Graham Stuart said, “Yorkshire Ambulance Service managers need to get their facts straight about why private ambulances are not being used more frequently to help ease the pressure on the service – and improve outcomes for seriously ill patients.
“I was assured by the YAS Chief Executive last Tuesday that the Board had made a decision not to use private ambulances because of a lack of available options. Now it has become clear that UNISON has been waging a campaign against private ambulances and that this – rather than quality issues – is the reason that services are absent and lives have been put at risk.
“Trust in our emergency services is essential. The YAS Board needs to make it clear whether it authorised this policy on private ambulances even when full shifts are being left vacant.”
