Ambulance trust criticised over bullying

Ambulance trust criticised over bullying

The trust's ambulance crews were given good reports

An ambulance service where staff were bullied has been criticised by health inspectors.

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report on Wiltshire Ambulance NHS Trust found relationships between staff and managers was poor.

It said workers suffered from low morale and some had reported concerns over bullying and the "autocratic" management style.

But bosses at the trust say they have already taken steps to address the issues which the report, compiled between August 2002 and March 2003, raised.

Modernisation needed

The report, published on Thursday, was based on interviews with staff and patients of the trust.

It said: "Staff feel management in parts of the trust is autocratic and the CHI received some reports of bullying and other inappropriate behaviour."

It also said old and insufficient equipment had led to technical difficulties and problems recording response times.

"Equipment is in need of modernisation," it concluded.

"The trust's radio system is inadequate... making it difficult for ambulance crews to communicate with the control centre in an emergency."

Highly committed

But the report also complemented the trust's staff and ambulance crews, which it said were highly committed and valued by the community.

Dennis Lauder, chief executive of Wiltshire Ambulance Trust, said: "The bullying is the most disappointing thing for me.

"I think there is a view that the way in which the management structure is used in this organisation can be heavy-handed and I think that is what staff are saying."

The trust said it acknowledged the criticisms in the report and had already taken steps to address the issues raised.

It said staff were the most important part of the organisation and that their concerns about management were taken very seriously.