Secamb to vote on strike action as GMB launches ballot

The union says ambulance trusts across the country have been chronically underfunded and its members are at “breaking point”.

The vote comes after a consultative ballot which saw over 90 per cent of GMB members decide in favour of a walk out over poverty pay.

Ballot dates will be announced for South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) and other ambulance trusts in the coming days.

Lib Whitfield, GMB regional organiser, said: “The service being provided by ambulance trusts across the country has been chronically underfunded and staff have for too long been at breaking point with no sign of anything changing.

“Recent CQC reports have been less than complimentary to the management of these services and it is only thanks to the goodwill of the overworked and undervalued crews that the service continues to be as responsive as it is.

Strike dates will be announced in the coming days

“GMB members are at breaking point and another year of not being able to pay their bills is a step too far for many.”

GMB says workers are angry over the Government’s imposed four per cent pay award which leaves them “facing yet another massive real terms pay cut”.

A report published in June by the Care Quality Commission, England’s independent health and social care regulator, found serious issues in the trust.

The ballot is about concerns over pay rather than Secamb's CQC report.

The report described “worrying levels” of concern were present in the trust’s culture – after issues raised by staff had been ignored.

The inspection in February said leaders are “out of touch” with frontline workers, and fail to understand challenges within the service.

There was also concerns raised regarding bullying, harassment, inappropriate sexualised behaviour, open grievances, as well as below-par training.

Secamb announced an interim chief executive, Siobhan Melia, who has a “strong” clinical background, and took up the position on July 12.

Interim chief executive Fiona Moore said in June that the leadership team is “committed to doing everything we can to make Secamb a better place to work”.

The report noted the excellent care provided by staff and "their kind, compassionate and supportive approach towards patients".

It also received a "good" rating for its NHS 111 service following two years of the pandemic which placed "significant strain" on the service.

GMB Union has announced formal strike ballots in all ten ambulance trusts in England.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We are giving over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

“Industrial action is a matter for unions, and we urge them to carefully consider the potential impacts on patients.”

Secamb serves more than five million people across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, and employs more than 4,500 staff across 110 sites.