More than half of paramedics say they witnessed a patient die due to NHS delays, according to a new survey.
A survey of GMB union staff highlights the shocking impact the NHS has on patients and staff.
Poll for channel 4 broadcasts The program also showed that 50 percent of rescuers spent their entire shift waiting outside the emergency room.
More than three-quarters said delays are affecting day-to-day patient care, while 78 percent said they are considering leaving the service for less demanding jobs, and 87 percent said the hospitals they work with are understaffed .
Two-thirds of EMS workers, including paramedics and rescue workers, say they face problems every day that could be better handled by health and mental health services.
Channel 4 program – Undercover ambulances: NHS in chaos – aired on Thursday night, followed crew member Daniel Waterhouse, who spent three months secretly filming his work amid the NHS’ worst winter crisis.
Lawrence Turner, head of research and policy at GMB, said: “These results are extremely frightening, but they align perfectly with what GMB members tell us every day.
“More than 10 years of budget cuts, with soaring demand and a flood of underpaid and demoralized paramedics leaving the service, have created the perfect storm.
“ER workers face enormous workloads, emotional trauma and even abuse, but they had to go on strike for months before the government even spoke to them about wages this year.
“If we want horror stories like this to stop, we need to properly fund our health care, starting with the workforce.”
Meanwhile, talks between ministers and unions to end NHS strikes next week will continue, the government said.
Discussions with NHS employers, the government and health workers’ unions that began on Monday were “constructive and meaningful”.
The strikes of medical workers and nurses have been suspended for the duration of the talks.
Although the talks were originally supposed to last only three days, all parties will meet again early next week to try to reach a collective agreement and end the strikes once and for all.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said: “The government, NHS employers and the unions representing the Agenda for Change workforce have had constructive and meaningful discussions over the past few days on pay and related issues. These negotiations will continue next week.”
The Royal College of Nursing began discussions with Health Secretary Steve Barclay last month about a possible lump sum offer this year, with the prospect of an additional raise in the coming fiscal year.
Unison, Unite and GMB ended their ambulance strikes last week when they agreed to negotiate.
GMB surveyed 1,263 ambulance workers in England and Wales between 26 January and 10 February 2023.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.