Hero ambulance crews have been placed on a management “blacklist” if they change blood- spattered uniforms during shifts.
A list of “regular offenders” was posted at one Scots ambulance base, sparking fury among staff, who have backed a vote of no confidence in bosses by the GMB trade union.
The blacklist – branded “the naughty list” by staff – was quickly removed but not before paramedics and ambulance technicians had spotted more than 30 named people classed as “regular offenders”.
A cover note attached stated: “We have been logging staff making themselves unavailable during the last hour of their shift and the management team have been keeping a log of regular offenders.”
It was put on the board on April 5. One staff member said: “We only found out this list existed because a manager put it on a notice board by mistake. They took it down as soon as they realised and apologised but the problem is not that the list was made public but that it exists at all.
“What do they want people to do when their uniforms are unwearable? Go out on calls for the rest of their shift covered in blood?”
One of the hazards of the job is that uniforms can get covered in blood or other body fluids while attending to very sick patients and vehicles can also become contaminated.
It is essential uniforms are changed and ambulances cleaned to prevent the next patient becoming infected.
In order to do this, crews have to return to base and make themselves “unavailable” for picking up a patient. This often happens during the final hour of their shift.
Unions say the blacklist is one of many problems facing staff.
GMB Scotland organiser Karen Leonard said: “A couple of members on the list said they were absolutely humiliated this was put up and feel it is a bullying tactic to make sure crews don’t make themselves unavailable and just work on. But that risks infecting other patients.”
Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said the blacklist was “an appalling way to treat our hardworking paramedics”. Curbs on issues like carrying over holidays are among other grievances to have triggered the “no-confidence” vote.
The union has written to the outgoing SAS chief executive Pauline Howie warning that if the issues are not addressed with urgency and commitment, the GMB will withdraw from crucial workplace partnership arrangements.
A Scottish Ambulance spokesperson said: “The welfare and well-being of our workforce is a top priority. We continue to do everything we can to support our staff.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Employment issues are a matter for the employee and health board. All staff should be encouraged to speak up and report any concerns they have.”
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