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Click on a Headline for full story |
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9 Dec 2004 |
Staff Shortages cause delay |
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PARAGON — A lack of staffed ambulances in
the southern part of Morgan County Saturday morning resulted in a call
to Monroe County for help. We added this story out of interest just
to show that things are actually a lot worse in some parts of the USA
than here. |
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9 Dec 2004 |
National
executive council elections 2005 |
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Timetable for elections agreed:
nominations to be in by 11 Feb |
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8 Dec 2004 |
Latex-allergy nurse wins further settlement |
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UNISON reaches last-minute deal with
Swansea hospital |
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7 Dec 2004 |
NHS
cracks down on MRSA |
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UNISON says more cleaners are solution in
battle to stop the superbug |
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6 Dec 2004 |
Nurses to
perform surgery |
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Government determined to reduce waiting
lists by training up to 5,000 practitioners |
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2 Dec 2004 |
Unions
gear up for conflict over pensions |
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Treasury proposals mean workers will “pay
more for less” |
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2 Dec 2004 |
UNISON
wins right to greater employee consultation |
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Tribunal rules employers must have proper
dialogue with staff over proposed redundancies |
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1 Dec 2004 |
Stress
becoming a bigger issue for UK workforce |
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TUC research identifies nearly 60% of
safety reps reporting it as issue for their workplace |
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***** |
Website News |
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We apologise for the lack of news updates
from Sep - Nov.
This was due to a technical issue and whilst the news box on the home
page was regularly updated with the latest news headlines, this page was
not. |
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2 September 2004 |
Tories
blamed for spread of superbug |
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Responding to Tory leader Michael Howard’s
comments on the spread of MRSA in hospitals, UNISON general secretary
Dave Prentis blamed the Conservative party for creating the conditions
for the superbug when they were in power. |
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1 September 2004 |
Private ads could go on 999 vans |
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Ambulances in Hampshire could be the
first in the country to carry private company logos in a bid to raise
money for drugs and cut a budget deficit. (BBC News) |
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1 September 2004 |
Man
held after gun siege on farm |
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Firearms officers were called to a farm in
Tiverton after a man threatened to kill police and ambulance staff.
(BBC News) |
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27 August 2004 |
UNISON
welcomes TUC call for more bank holidays |
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The TUC is calling on the government to
introduce three new bank holidays to bring the UK into line with the
European average of 11. |
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5 August 2004 |
'No
show' ambulance for youngster |
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An inquiry is under way after a
six-year-old disabled girl with possible meningitis waited two hours for
an ambulance that did not arrive. (BBC News) |
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3 August 2004 |
Paramedics demand Olympic bonus |
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Greek ambulance drivers and paramedics
have gone on strike to demand extra payment during the Olympic Games.
(BBC News) |
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3 August 2004 |
Volunteer hit by £2,000 tax bill |
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A volunteer ambulance car driver is facing
a £2,000 tax bill for mileage claimed for unpaid work. (BBC
News) |
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29 July 2004 |
Violence
plagues ambulance staff |
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Ambulance workers suffer more violence and
bullying than other NHS staff, research finds. They are also more
likely to be disatisfied with their work-life balance, and level of
managerial support than other NHS workers. (BBC News) |
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23 July 2004 |
Ambulance
dispute comes to an end |
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An industrial dispute involving ambulance
workers in the north east has come to an end. The dispute began after
the North East Ambulance Service decided not to pay staff during their
meal breaks. (BBC News) |
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14 July 2004 |
Hospital superbug on the rise |
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UNISON is urging the department of health
to increase the number of cleaners on the wards and introduce easier
access to hand washing facilities, as part of its fight to cut the
number of cases of MRSA. |
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14 July 2004 |
Ambulanceman drove 'without care' |
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A Cornwall ambulance driver involved in a
collision with a car in which two young men died has been convicted of
driving without due care and attention. (BBC News) |
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13 July 2004 |
Zimbabwe 'returning to stone age' |
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The introduction of ox-drawn ambulances is
a sign that President Robert Mugabe is taking Zimbabwe back to the stone
ages, the opposition says.
The nine ambulances are destined for rural areas around the capital,
Harare.... (BBC News) |
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2 July 2004 |
Ambulance
speeding fines are axed |
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Ambulance drivers on emergency calls will
not be fined for going over the speed limit, the government has said.
Health minister Rosie Winterton made the pledge to the Ambulance Service
Association meeting in Harrogate. |
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29 June 2004 |
Union
discusses ambulance dispute |
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Union leaders representing ambulance
workers in the north-east of England have been meeting in an effort to
resolve ongoing industrial action. Members of UNISON are refusing to
work overtime or to provide emergency cover for certain events.
(BBC News) |
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19 June 2004 |
NHS plans for
the unthinkable |
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As the crews from the North East Ambulance
Service sped to Newcastle city centre, all they knew was that there had
been a sarin gas attack. (BBC News) |
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18 June 2004 |
NHS
has saved £500m by combating fraud |
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The NHS's special body combating fraud
says that half way through its ten year remit it has saved nearly half a
billion pounds of loss - enough to pay for 60,000 kidney transplants or
100,000 hip replacements. |
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17 June 2004 |
Ambulances
'missing targets' |
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Almost two-thirds of England's ambulance
services are failing to meet government targets for fast responses to
calls, figures show. (BBC News) |
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16 June 2004 |
PFI
projects only save money by crushing staff pay and conditions |
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The cost savings promised by privatising
public services are at the expense of workers' terms and conditions of
the staff and not through any real managerial innovation. |
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16 June 2004 |
UNISON
member wins £354,193 award over allergy tragedy |
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A UNISON member who developed a
life-threatening allergy to latex while working at two hospitals in
Swansea has seen the triumphant culmination of her eight-year battle for
justice today when Cardiff County Court ordered she be paid more than
£350,000. |
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15 June 2004 |
Tory
'right to choose' policy 'sheer nonsense' |
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UNISON today branded Tory leader Michael
Howard's 'right to choose' plan "complete and utter nonsense". |
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15 June 2004 |
Seven hour wait for ambulance |
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A woman who will be 100 years old in
August waited over seven hours for an ambulance to take her to hospital.
(BBC News) |
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11 June 2004 |
New
timetable for Agenda for Change |
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UNISON today welcomed the new timetable
for the national roll-out of Agenda for Change as the best way forward.
The operational date for moving the first staff onto new terms and
conditions outside the early implementer sites will now be 1 December,
with pay and conditions changes dated back to 1 October. |
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10 June 2004 |
Action date
for ambulance staff |
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Ambulance staff in the north-east of
England will be taking industrial action from next week. Members of
public service union Unison who work for the North East Ambulance
Service voted in a dispute over meal breaks. (BBC News) |
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9 June 2004 |
Ambulance work is the most stressful profession
'official' |
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Rankings of occupations follow (ranked in order of those occupations
with most reported problems). The study of employees in 26 occupations
was carried out by business psychology firm Robertson Cooper in 2004. |
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8 June 2004 |
Few ambulances 'draining police' |
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Police in Dorset are increasingly being
called out to medical emergencies due to a lack of sufficient ambulance
cover, it is claimed. |
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7 June 2004 |
Air
ambulance faces cash crisis |
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London's Air Ambulance, which operates
from the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, is facing a £500,000
budget shortfall. (BBC News) |
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7 June 2004 |
Action looms
for ambulance staff |
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Ambulance workers in the north-east of
England have voted in favour of industrial action. The members of the
public service union UNISON were balloted on Monday in a dispute over
meal breaks. (BBC News) |
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7 June 2004 |
Fire
union votes on medical calls |
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Firefighters in London are voting on
whether to take industrial action in a row over answering medical calls.
(BBC News) |
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21 May 2004 |
Union
activist was unfairly sacked |
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UNISON member Sarbani Mazumdar was
racially discriminated against when Wandsworth council in London
unfairly dismissed her in March 2002, an employment tribunal has
decided. |
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21 May 2004 |
Former
Blair health advisor joins private firm |
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Trade union leaders have criticised
Downing Street’s former health advisor, for taking a job with a US
company looking to cash in on NHS reforms.
The unions, including UNISON, disapprove of Simon Stevens’ move to the
United Health Group, a company which is hoping to win NHS contracts.
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21 May 2004 |
Paramedics suspended for shopping |
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Two paramedics have been taken off duty
for going shopping while they were on call for emergencies. (BBC News) |
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19 May 2004 |
Death crash 999 driver to settle |
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A trainee ambulance driver cleared of
killing a woman when he jumped a red light on a 999 call has agreed a
settlement with his former employer. (BBC News) |
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14 May 2004 |
Hospital food scandal – inquiry needed |
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UNISON is today calling for an inquiry
into the waste and profiteering by private companies contracted to
provide hospital food.
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14 May 2004 |
Eleven escape after bus crash |
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An ambulance was used to prop up a bus
that crashed in Keynsham on Thursday. (BBC News) |
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14 May 2004 |
Baby's long wait for paramedics |
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A mother who found her baby had stopped
breathing is demanding answers after she was told it would take 45
minutes for an ambulance to arrive. (BBC News) |
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14 May 2004 |
Fears raised over hospital move |
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Health officials in Crawley have met
ambulance crews who are concerned over changes to accident and emergency
services in the town. (BBC News) |
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31 March 2004 |
Ten
hospitals get Foundation status today |
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The first hospitals in England to be
awarded foundation status were announced today by Bill Moyes, chairman
of the Independent Regulator of the NHS Foundation Trusts.
Ten NHS trusts will become foundation hospitals from 1 April in the
first wave of applications. (2 are from Central London) |
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31 March 2004 |
Eighth Las UNISON AGM |
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I am very pleased to
welcome you to this eighth Annual General Meeting. I hope you enjoy the
meeting and the evening. Although we like to keep these meetings
friendly and relaxed there is however, formal business that we must
attend to...................... |
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30 March 2004 |
Apology
for ambulance crew change |
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Ambulance bosses have admitted that
mistakes were made when a crew changed shift while a Devon man was being
taken to hospital after a heart attack. (BBC News) |
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26 March 2004 |
Groping paramedic gets four years |
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A paramedic has been jailed for four years
after groping an 83-year-old patient in the back of an ambulance.
Clifford Power, 44, also molested two other women while working for
Sussex Ambulance Service, the court heard. (BBC News) |
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26 March 2004 |
Paramedics 'prepared for attack' |
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London's paramedics are well prepared to
meet the threat of a terrorist attack or other major incident in the
city, according to a watchdog.
(CHI said staff were "committed and working hard to provide top quality
services for patients". But it did find that many ambulances were
unclean.) (BBC News) |
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25 March 2004 |
Ambulance crashes in town centre |
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Police are investigating an ambulance
crash in the centre of Northampton. (BBC News) |
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22 March 2004 |
GPs to support ambulance service |
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More doctors are to volunteer to work
alongside paramedics at the scene of road accidents. (BBC News) |
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24 March 2004 |
Public
backs ban on public smoking |
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The vast majority of the public want a ban
on smoking in all public places, according to a new BBC poll. In a
reflection of heightened awareness on health issues, there was also
strong support for a ban on TV ads for fast food and sweets, while
children are watching, and a ban of crisps, chocolates and fizzy drink
machines from all school premises. |
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23 March 2004 |
NHS:
‘best winter performance ever’ |
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NHS staff have been praised for their hard
work in avoiding a winter crisis this year, with increased investment
leading to solid performance improvements. |
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23 March 2004 |
Housing
support promised for key workers |
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Front line public workers who’ve been
priced out of the property market in areas like London and the
South-East are to get subsidies to help them buy homes. A new £690m
initiative called the Key Worker Living programme has been set up by the
government. |
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19 March 2004 |
Record
numbers now working for the NHS |
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A record number of people are working for
the NHS, according to new figures issued today by the Department of
Health |
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18 March 2004 |
NHS trust
chairman resigns after criticisms caught on tape |
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The chairman of a highflying NHS trust has
resigned after making controversial comments criticising agency nurses.
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17 March 2004 |
OAP died after
ambulance wait |
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An elderly woman died in her home just
minutes before an ambulance she had waited for more than seven hours to
arrive, came to take her to hospital. (BBC News) |
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12 March 2004 |
Ambulance worker denies assault |
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An ambulance technician from East Sussex
has appeared in court charged with indecently assaulting a patient. (BBC
News) |
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10 March 2004 |
NHS staff
pay high price for dedication |
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One in six NHS staff have faced physical
violence while trying to carry out their duties, according to a survey
of over 200,000 health service workers. |
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2 March 2004 |
999
man sacked over porn viewing |
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A worker in the emergency control room at
Mersey Regional Ambulance has been sacked for viewing computer porn.
(BBC News) |
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24 Feb 2004 |
Death
crash lorry driver jailed |
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A lorry driver who fell asleep at the
wheel and crashed into an ambulance, killing a man, has been jailed.
(BBC News) |
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16 Feb 2004 |
Tory
spending plans 'complete and utter nonsense' |
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UNISON has slammed Conservative Party
plans to slash public spending, branding them "utter nonsense". Speaking
today, shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin claimed "cost savings" can trim
public spending by £35bn by 2011 – yet leave health and education
spending protected. Crtics say his figures don't add up and the public
won't be "conned" by his "crude calculations". |
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11 Feb 2004 |
Government to help unions fight for employee rights |
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The upcoming Employment Relations Bill is
expected to contain proposals for cash to help unions become more
effective in fighting for employee rights. |
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11 Feb 2004 |
Landmark
ruling on workplace bullying |
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A Court of Appeal ruling today (11
February) could be great news for victims of workplace bullying. In
awarding victory in an appeal over a UNISON-brought case of unfair
dismissal the court overturned a 30-year old reading of employment law
that could mean thousands of similar claimants may be entitled to more
compensation than first expected. |
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7 Feb 2004 |
Ambulance 'refused emergency call' |
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An investigation is under way into claims
emergency operators refused to send an ambulance to a crash half a mile
outside its catchment area. (BBC News) |
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5 Feb 2004 |
Heart
patient 'delay' investigated |
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Ambulance bosses are investigating claims
an ambulance crew stopped for up to 20 minutes to change shift while
taking a heart attack victim to hospital. (BBC News) |
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2 Feb 2004 |
Extra cash for
performing trusts |
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Hospitals and ambulance trusts will be
given a cash bonus if they meet government targets for faster and better
emergency care. (BBC News) |
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30 Jan 2004 |
'Inappropriate' 999 calls tackled |
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A man who was scared of thunder and would
not get off the phone until the storm ended was just one of a number of
"inappropriate" calls made to the Westcountry Ambulance Service (WAS).
(BBC News) |
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29 Jan 2004 |
Ethnic
minorities and the disabled staff – the most harassed in the NHS
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NHS staff in London who are sick or
disabled are more likely to face harassment and discrimination - from
colleagues and patients alike – than other staff, according to a new
survey. |
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28 Jan 2004 |
Deaths in
999 crash 'accidental' |
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The death of two sisters who died when
their car collided with an ambulance on a 999 call was accidental, an
inquest has ruled. (BBC News) |
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26 Jan 2004 |
Lorry
driver denies death charge |
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A man died in an ambulance after it was
hit by a lorry whose driver had fallen asleep, a court has been told.
(BBC News) |
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24 Jan 2004 |
Thieves target ambulance |
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Life-saving equipment was stolen from an
ambulance as its crew attended an emergency. (BBC News) |
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23 Jan 2004 |
Working while sick is the new epidemic |
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Too many people are going into work when
they are ill, according to a new TUC report. A poll of 1,000 people
found that as many as three staff in four have been to work while sick.
One in five of those questioned had gone in sick in the last month
alone. |
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23 Jan 2004 |
NHS to get
'dirty bomb' detectors |
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NHS hospitals and ambulance crews are to
get radiation equipment to enable them to detect dirty bombs. (BBC
News) |
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23 Jan 2004 |
Mercy dash ambulance in accident |
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An ambulance answering a 999 call
overturned on the A64 dual carriageway near York late on Thursday night.
(BBC News) |
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21 Jan 2004 |
Las UNISON
Branch Launches Computer Course |
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On the 19 January 2004 UNISON held their
first course exclusively for LAS stewards. |
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16 Jan 2004 |
Health Workers face
HIV infection threat |
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Seventeen health workers may have been infected with
HIV at work, and four have died as a result, according to a
parliamentary report. |
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13 Jan 2004 |
Death
crash medic loses job appeal |
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A trainee paramedic cleared of killing a
woman when he jumped a red light on a 999 call has lost his fight to get
his job back. (BBC News) |
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12 Jan 2004 |
Major crisis in ambulance paramedic registration |
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The Health Professions Council (HPC) has
notified UNISON of a major crisis, which is quickly approaching with the
failure of some 820 Paramedics to fully register.
These are all paramedics who have returned their registration fees so
indicating their intention to register but as yet they have not returned
in full the required forms with signatures. |
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7 Jan 2004 |
UNISON ambulance conference report 2003 |
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Another successful UNISON national
ambulance conference was held in Leeds on the 13 November and was
attended by one hundred members.
There was a lively and vociferous debate throughout the day at all the
workshops with many members participating in the question and answer
sessions. |
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7 Jan 2004 |
Ambulance technicians’ band 5 negotiations continue |
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UNISON has been having long and detailed
discussions with the employers about the production of a National
Ambulance Technician job profile under the Agenda for Change proposals.
These negotiations are continuing. In December 03 we submitted our
arguments to the employer justifying the introduction of a Band 5
Technicians post.......... |
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6 Jan 2004 |
Red tape cut for
ambulance fines |
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The government has promised to make it
easier for ambulance staff to contest speeding tickets. (BBC News) |
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1 Jan 2004 |
Paramedic car stolen in raid |
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An ambulance station in Cheshire has been
broken into and an emergency vehicle stolen. (BBC News) |
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