Ambulance 'bully' claims probed

The investigation team will be independent, it was confirmed

An independent investigation has been ordered into allegations of bullying and harassment at the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Senior bosses at the organisation have taken voluntary leave while the complaints are looked into.

The announcement came after Labour claims in parliament that funding cuts were causing problems.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has promised to make a statement on wider problems in the service at Holyrood.

The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed its chief executive, Kevin Doran, and operations director, Grace Kennedy, had taken voluntary leave from their posts while an investigation was carried out.

The details of the allegations are not known - but the ambulance service board has decided to independently investigate the claims with a team headed up by an NHS board chairperson, to be appointed in the next few days.

We have staff relations to be proud of in the NHS and I want to make sure that's the way it stays Nicola Sturgeon Scottish health secretary

The service's finance director, Pauline Moore, has been appointed acting chief executive.

The Unite union, which represents more than 1,400 Scottish Ambulance Service staff, has spent weeks expressing its concerns to the organisation.

Jimmy Farrelly, a senior officer with the union, said he believed management practices had resulted in a culture of bullying and harassment which was hitting staff morale and patient care.

"We welcome the moves taken today by the board of the Scottish Ambulance Service which we believe are a direct response to the concerns we have raised," he said.

Ms Sturgeon welcomed the appointment of an outside inquiry team, adding: "When serious allegations are made its vital that action is taken swiftly. The board of the Scottish Ambulance Service have acted very swiftly.

"We have staff relations to be proud of in the NHS and I want to make sure that's the way it stays," she told BBC Scotland.

'Disturbing stories'

The move came after MSPs recently voted to ask the health secretary to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on general issues with the service.

A Holyrood debate heard claims from Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran that under-pressure staff and vacant shifts not being covered because of budgetary restrictions had raised the prospect of industrial action.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie he had heard "disturbing stories" from within the ambulance service, adding: "Nobody should have to endure bullying at work and, if these allegations are substantiated I expect swift disciplinary action to be taken."

The Tories' Mary Scanlon said of the organisation: "Complaints are up, vehicles numbers are down, volunteer driver numbers are falling and there are serious allegations being made about the manner in which the organisation is being run."

Ms Curran said public confidence in the organisation had to be restored.