UNISON challenges understaffing in West Country ambulance service‏

The UNISON branch which organises the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) in the South West of England has voiced concerns at the absence of trained paramedics on front line ambulance services. Instead the employer has relied on emergency care assistants who cannot adminster drugs unlike a paramedic or technician.

Branch Chair Ian Whittern said '“we are in dispute with the management at GWAS over the use of ECAs on front line ambulances and we are not happy they are being used to double crew ambulances. The public expect the NHS to have an ambulance crew that is trained to primarily treat patients.”

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/4661445.Wiltshire_anger_over_999_crews/?ref=rss