Paramedic speaks out about pressure on NHS workers

The South Western Ambulance Service paramedic, who asked the Echo to remain anonymous, has given a devastating account of life in the job and hit out at the unrelenting demand on healthcare workers.

He claims too much ‘box-ticking’, an undersized A&E department at Poole and frontline workers being underpaid and under-appreciated has left even longer waits for first responders.

“The ambulance staff and paramedics usually look after four patients inside the hospital at all times.

Ambulances outside Poole A&E

"Earlier this month we were looking after 10 patients– as the ambulance service inside the hospital – I don’t think people realise that", said the paramedic who works in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

“It’s just depressing. I didn’t sign up for this.”

Earlier this month the Daily Echo reported that SWAST is currently facing ‘the highest ever level of sustained demand’ with queues of ambulances pictured outside A&E.

Read more: 'Pressure on us is the worst we've ever known' say NHS staff in Poole and Bournemouth

At the time, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Dorset, Professor Alyson O’Donnell, said the past few weeks had seen “some of the most significant and sustained pressures on our hospitals faced in recent years”.

She told the Daily Echo: “During this time our first priority has to be providing the most urgent and lifesaving care. This means that many patients in less urgent need of care may have to wait longer than we would like, including in ambulances at our emergency departments.”

Ambulances outside Poole A&E

However, according to the paramedic we spoke to, the demand and pressure experienced by frontline NHS staff is not reflected in the level of respect and pay received.

“Sometimes it feels a bit hopeless,” said the paramedic.

“I think personally the main crisis within the NHS is that it’s not an attractive enough job. I could go and work at Tesco and get paid the same amount I do as a paramedic and that doesn’t seem right to me.

“I’m not ready to quit - but lots of other people are ready to leave or thinking of leaving soon.”

Read more: 'We want everybody to be seen but we physically cannot': Inside emergency wards

A South Western Ambulance spokesperson said: “We are sorry that the waits for ambulances to arrive are longer than we would expect, and we apologise for this wholeheartedly. The ambulance service is extremely busy and we continue to prioritise the most clinically urgent cases.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their patience and understanding, and our staff for their focus, continued commitment and hard work.”

A spokesperson for Universities Hospitals Dorset Trust said: “We are working closely with South West Ambulance Service to make improvements and thank the public for their support during these unprecedented times.”