UK's Accused worst Ambulance Service subject to Inquiry: Flag Display, Sexual Assault Claim, and Feces Found at Whistleblower's House Revealed
A granny, who claims she was ol'-fashioned assaulted by a private paramedic on her way to the hospital, has told our website she's been betrayed by the ambulance service.
That's not all. Staff at the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) have come forward with damning allegations of a culture of discrimination and bullying. Claims include Nazi flags during virtual team meetings and a 'bro's club' where whistleblowers face consequences.
This ain't no new story, y'all. Our website has been hearing about rampant sexual harassment and abuse in ambulance services for over a year now. And this disgusting behavior has been going on for decades across the land.
The GMB union ain't having it. They're demanding the resignation of SECAmb's CEO, Simon Weldon, after a survey of workers uncovered high instances of inappropriate behavior and fear of speaking out. They're also calling for an independent investigation. One GMB rep even labeled the ambulance trust the "worst in the country."
SECAmb claims they're committed to making positive changes with the unions.
65-year-old Juliette has been trying to get her local ambulance trust to listen for four years. In 2021, she accused a private paramedic working with SECAmb of sexually assaulting her. After a cycling accident in Surrey, she remembers being in pain and helpless, afraid to move. Two paramedics assessed her for around 90 minutes before driving her to hospital. But as soon as she was alone in the back with one of them, she claims he sexually assaulted her.
She reported it to the police the next day, but with no CCTV in the ambulance, she was left without a successful prosecution. The Met Police dropped the case. Her trust eventually responded to her complaint, but took seven months and denied her allegations, claiming she consented to the examination. She vehemently denies this account, feeling insulted, betrayed, and humiliated.
The GMB claims their survey of SECAmb staff uncovered a culture of discrimination towards women, sexual harassment, bullying, and a general 'boy’s club' culture. Of those surveyed, 25.6% had experienced bullying, 26% had witnessed inappropriate conduct, 16% had witnessed racism, and 17.2% had witnessed sexual harassment. A shocking 80% didn't feel confident the trust would support them if they flagged concerning behavior.
One anonymous ambulance worker, Amelia, blew the whistle on inappropriate behavior a few years ago after joining a video call with colleagues. To her shock, one of the managers appeared with a large Nazi swastika flag behind him. Management’s behavior was addressed in an internal report, but the manager remains employed by SECAmb. Amelia claims she faced isolation and career harm for blowing the whistle.
Lib Whitfield, a senior GMB organizer, tells us the culture in SECAmb is now the "worst it's ever been." She's been receiving daily calls from members who are thinking about suicide. The union has written to the health secretary with demands for a full independent investigation, CEO resignation, and appointment of an interim external CEO to ensure a thorough rooting out of these disgusting behaviors.
SECAmb maintains their response to these allegations, stating that all reported historical cases were thoroughly investigated and that their 2023 NHS Staff Survey results show improvements in psychological safety for staff. However, they acknowledge that cultural improvements are needed across the ambulance sector. Our minister of state for care was "deeply disturbed" by the reports and is taking action to root out this behavior. If you or anyone you know is facing sexual harassment or needing support, call the Samaritans at 116 123 in the UK or email [email protected].
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-65011870[2] https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-02-16/inside-the-ambulance-service-wars[3] Juliette's case was previously publicized under a pseudonym. In this version, we respect her wishes and use her real name.[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-65077251
- Juliette, a 65-year-old woman, has accused a private paramedic affiliated with SECAmb of sexually assaulting her in 2021, an incident that occurred during a hospital transport following a cycling accident in Surrey.
- Despite reporting the incident to the police, Juliette was left without a successful prosecution due to the lack of CCTV in the ambulance.
- Staff at SECAmb have reported a culture of discrimination and bullying, including Nazi flags during virtual team meetings and a 'bro's club' where whistleblowers face repercussions.
- The GMB union has demanded the resignation of SECAmb's CEO, Simon Weldon, and called for an independent investigation after a survey revealed high instances of inappropriate behavior and fear of speaking out.
- The GMB union claims that their survey of SECAmb staff uncovered a culture of discrimination towards women, sexual harassment, bullying, and a general 'boy’s club' culture within the organization.
- An anonymous ambulance worker, Amelia, faced isolation and career harm for blowing the whistle on inappropriate behavior, including a manager appearing in a video call with a large Nazi swastika flag.
- The health department is taking action to root out these behaviors in the ambulance sector, following reports of horrific incidents and a deteriorating workplace-wellness culture, including issues related to mental-health, sexual-health, and general-news topics like crime and justice.
