EU forces British ambulances to wait for tea

Ambulance crews in Brighouse could be forced to finish their tea breaks before turning out on an emergency call thanks to new EU rules. Staff working at ambulance stations in West Yorkshire are among those who will be affected by the changes which staff have described as 'madness'.

If paramedics receive a call to a road traffic accident or someone taken ill at their home the new rules mean they are officially supposed to complete their meal break before responding to the emergency call. Paramedics in other parts of the country where the new ruling has been adopted have warned lives will be lost.

In some parts of the country ambulance services have opted out of the European Working Time Directive that enforces breaks. If a major accident happened outside an ambulance station and staff were on the first part of their meal break it would technically mean they could not be asked to help.

Operations director for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, John Darley, said a letter was sent out to all front line staff at the beginning of December informing them of changes to rotas and meal breaks. 'These changes are aimed at unifying the staff in North, East, South and West Yorkshire who joined together on July 1, 2006 when Yorkshire Ambulance Service - YAS was formed. 'Only West and South Yorkshire staff will be affected by the rota or meal break changes - with a protected meal break being introduced for the first time in West Yorkshire. Staff in North and East Yorkshire will continue with their current rota and meal break arrangements,' he said.

But John Durkin, GMB branch secretary for YAS, said the aim of the ambulance service was to save lives and he felt professionalism would outweigh the new ruling. 'Brighouse is very fortunate to have professional staff whose main aim is to help people,' said Mr Durkin. He said the meal break issue was among other changes currently being discussed.

Just days before Christmas hundreds of ambulance workers were warned of possible redundancies in the Yorkshire area. Around 400 staff working for YAS were told of changes that were being made to ensure a more efficient service. But Mr Durkin said the changes would have a knock on effect on patient care. He criticised the service for its 'insensitive' handling of the situation which he said had been done without any consultation. 'The staff who are affected back up the front line workers. It will affect patient care,' he said

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