ENFORCED CHANGES UPDATE
After recent events this week and numerous claims and counter claims by the Trust and Unison Branch Committee, the committee feels that the situation is spiralling in to a tit for tat argument that will not benefit either our members or the Trust, it is most certainly a distraction for affected staff and doesn’t resolve the issue at hand.
The situation is on a knife edge. If the trust continues to enforce these changes in such a way then we will be given no option but to ballot members, potentially leading to industrial action. We have always been and still are keen to resolve this issue with the Trust in the correct manner, through meaningful negotiation and agreement.
Advice to ECAs
We believe that ECAs should work to their agreed scope of practice, with the additional locally agreed amendment allowing them to work together, but only to back up a confirmed RRV already on scene and requesting back up. The RRV clinician must then travel in with the patient.
If the trust insists that you act outside of your agreed scope of practice, we advise that you get the name of the manager making the request. Dispatchers should not be forced into a position where they are expected to give the ‘reasonable instruction’ that is a management role. Where possible speak to the manager concerned highlighting your concerns, but at no point refuse to attend or delay an emergency call.
If you are forced into this situation, firstly this should be documented on your PRF, then at the first opportunity you should DATIX the incident (0845 121 2146 open 24/7), and also send a copy of the incident to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Meal Breaks
The current agreed meal break says that you should commence your meal break between the 4th and 6th hour of your shift, regardless of shift length, you should then be stood down and returned to your base station.
If you are forced outside of this agreement staff should request to return to their base station and claim their subsistence payment in line with the above agreed windows.
Yet again we do not refuse or delay an emergency response and if you are forced to work beyond this agreement complete a DATIX (0845 121 2146 open 24/7) and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.
Correct Mailing Address
Could all members please ensure that their details on the UNISON data base are up to date, this can be done by calling 08000 857 857. It is vital we have members correct postal addresses should this situation escalate to a postal ballot.
