GMB concerns over safety of ambulance staff on G4S contract
GMB concerns over safety and welfare of ambulance staff working on the G4S ambulance contract in Ilford and Romford.
Staff have to park their ambulances in a car park that has no security, is not lit at night and has no facilities, which they have to use as late as 4am says GMB London.
GMB, the union for ambulance staff, is concerned for the safety and welfare of members working for G4S Ambulance on the Patient Transport Service at King George Hospital in Ilford and Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
G4S Ambulance, who run the Barking, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) University Hospitals Patient Transport Service, have known for 2 years that their accommodation in Hainault, Essex was to close.
Since the closure of the Hainault accommodation at the beginning of February, staff must now park ambulances in an unlit, unsecure, privately owned car park with no facilities.
Dave Powell, GMB Regional Officer said:
“GMB members and other staff have to park their ambulances and their vehicles in a car park in Fairlop that has no security, is not lit at night and has no facilities, which they have to use as late as 4am. There have already been two incidents in the car park, one involving an all female crew, and this situation is unacceptable. Luckily no-one was hurt in either situation.
The company have all but ignored GMB members concerns and we believe this is a serious breach of the health, safety and welfare of our members.
A rest area has been made available at Queen’s hospital but our members have to take breaks with clients and use patient toilets, yet another health and safety breach.
This is the same NHS trust that was involved in the sandwich dismissal last week, two BHR contractors in a week that are treating staff in a disgraceful and thoughtless way.”
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Contact: Dave Powell on 07710 631349
Notes to editors
1) G4S have run the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust non-emergency patient transport services since 2003.
2) Latest contract was awarded in July 2015 for 5 years
3) The value of this public contract is unknown. A recent Freedom of Information request to the trust asking for the value was met with the response “This information is commercial in confidence and is therefore exempt from the duty to disclose it”
www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n1549.pdf&ver=2534
