Ambulance Staff Face Holiday Ban

Ambulance staff in the East of England are reportedly missing significant personal events, including holidays, weddings, and funerals, due to their leave requests being denied. Unison reported that 99% of surveyed employees at the East of England Ambulance Service had trouble booking time off in the recent six months. Some staff members were even required to work during previously approved leave periods due to insufficient cover, causing them to miss planned family trips. These issues have raised concerns about potential staff burnout, despite improvements in emergency response times.

The ambulance trust has acknowledged the challenges faced by its staff and has committed to working collaboratively with unions to address the problems. Efforts include increasing annual leave allowances to their highest levels in recent years. The trust recognizes that further action is needed to resolve issues like 'stranded' shifts and to ensure staff well-being, alongside maintaining effective public services.