That this Council:
(a) shares the legitimate concerns expressed by “whistle-blowers” and other stakeholders regarding the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the possible risk to patients being created by their failings and allegations of “whistle-blowers” being targeted and gagged;
(b) notes with concern that:
(i) Yorkshire Ambulance Service has failed to achieve the national target for emergency response times in 11 out of the last 12 months (correct to October 2014);
(ii) Emergency Care Assistants have been sent out to urgent and emergency calls with no qualified paramedic, putting patients’ lives at risk;
(iii) there are significant cuts to paramedics (15%) and the ambulance fleet (10%) being planned; and
(iv) “Whistle-blowers” have alleged that emergency call-out data has been manipulated to reach targets;
(c) calls on the Care Quality Commission to take enforcement action to ensure the safety of patients and relevant national standards are met;
(d) pledges to oppose any application made by the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to become a Foundation Trust with greater powers, whilst the issues outlined remain unresolved; and
(e) demands that the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service:
(i) stops the planned cuts to paramedics and ambulances that put patients at risk; and
(ii) reinstates all Trade Union rights and protects “whistle-blowers”.
Minutes:
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Yorkshire Ambulance Service – Performance Concerns |
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RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Harry Harpham, seconded by Councillor Stuart Wattam, that this Council:- |
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(a) shares the legitimate concerns expressed by “whistle-blowers” and other stakeholders regarding the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the possible risk to patients being created by their failings and allegations of “whistle-blowers” being targeted and gagged;
(b) notes with concern that:
(i) Yorkshire Ambulance Service has failed to achieve the national target for emergency response times in 11 out of the last 12 months (correct to October 2014);
(ii) Emergency Care Assistants have been sent out to urgent and emergency calls with no qualified paramedic, putting patients’ lives at risk;
(iii) there are significant cuts to paramedics (15%) and the ambulance fleet (10%) being planned; and
(iv) “Whistle-blowers” have alleged that emergency call-out data has been manipulated to reach targets;
(c) calls on the Care Quality Commission to take enforcement action to ensure the safety of patients and relevant national standards are met;
(d) pledges to oppose any application made by the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to become a Foundation Trust with greater powers, whilst the issues outlined remain unresolved; and
(e) demands that the Board of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service:
(i) stops the planned cuts to paramedics and ambulances that put patients at risk; and
(ii) reinstates all Trade Union rights and protects “whistle-blowers”. |