BPS welcomes culture review of ambulance trusts
An independent review of ambulance trusts, commissioned by NHS England, has made a number of recommendations, including on improving staff wellbeing.
15 March 2024
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The review was launched following a report by the National Guardian's Office in February 2023, highlighting 'significant challenges in terms of the culture within ambulance trusts across England', including regarding wellbeing, bullying and sexual harassment.
The new culture review makes recommendations across operational performance, leadership and management, operational environment, and diversity inclusion.
The BPS is particularly pleased to see that it is recommended that NHS England reviews its health and wellbeing frameworks for ambulance staff, taking into account operational context.
Paramedics and other ambulance staff are among those who are being affected by the closure of NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs, an issue on which we have been campaigning over recent months.
BPS President-Elect Dr Roman Raczka said:
We welcome the focus on wellbeing in this review, and the call for all ambulance staff to have access to health and wellbeing schemes. Paramedics and ambulance staff work in an extremely high-pressured environment, so it comes as little surprise that this review has found current staff mental health and wellbeing provision to be lacking. We know that many ambulance staff made use of the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs – and continue to access those still open. It does show, however, the need for a fully-funded and joined-up mental health offer for health and social care staff, such as the hubs, which can provide help to all staff, and targeted interventions and support for specific professional groups.