Private ambulance contract puts patient safety at risk 24/05/11

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has warned that patient safety stands at risk, after the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust signed a three year contract with Norvic, the private ambulance provider.

Norvic, based at Taverham, near Norwich, will supply patient transport services to the Trust, despite the fact that staff receive much less vital training than NHS ambulance crew drivers.

NHS drivers are not recruited if they have more than three penalty points on their licence and have to successfully complete an intensive three-week advanced driving course. Norvic drivers are allowed to have six points and undergo a two day advanced driver course.

The Emergency Medical Technician course for Norvic drivers is also only five days long, while NHS ambulance drivers must complete a 10 week course, followed by 12 months of supervision.

Gary Applin, from the East of England Ambulance Service UNISON branch, said:

“We have grave concerns about patient safety with the new Norvic contract. Ambulance drivers aren’t delivering parcels, they are transporting the sick, disabled and some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“Norvic drivers receive far less training than their NHS counterparts. The public should be worried about being driven around by drivers and clinicians with very limited training.

“The Trust needs to answer some very tough questions about why they are choosing to pay for the services of a private company, rather than their own experienced, hard-working NHS staff.

“This is a classic example of back-door privatisation. Patient care should come before huge profit margins.”