999 staff critical over changes

The survey found most staff did not think changes were well handled

Almost two in three Welsh Ambulance Service workers do not believe its changes have been handled well, a survey of staff suggests.

The NHS poll, leaked to BBC Wales, also found that two in three employees did not think senior managers were being "open and honest" with them.

A review in 2006 found the service's leadership lacked direction which had led to poor performance.

The ambulance service said it had developed a plan to tackle the issues.

More than 1,000 paramedic service staff were questioned for the NHS poll carried out in 2007.

It found 64% of staff did not think the NHS's agenda for change had been implemented successfully.

The same number said they were not well informed about what was happening in the organisation.

Second review

Slightly more (65%), did not think poor performance in the service was dealt with effectively.

And more than two in three (72%) did not think communication between management and staff was effective.

The survey was conducted by the Welsh Partnership Forum, which is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government and includes 14 health care trade unions as well as representatives of senior management for NHS Wales.

However, 56% of staff felt they had the information to do the job well and 68% were clear about what they were expected to achieve in their jobs.

But 68% did not think it was safe to speak up and challenge the way things were done.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said the survey was carried out less than a year into its five year modernisation programme and staff had been going through some major changes.

"The results of the survey are being taken very seriously and, working in partnership with the trade unions, we have already developed an action plan to improve the situation," said a spokesperson for the service.

"The staff survey results remind us that we need to invest more time in developing the working relationship between staff and managers.

"The trust is launching a new learning programme, part of which will focus on the need for good communication and the importance of building strong working relationships.

"We will also be reminding everyone who works for the trust that we should all treat each other with respect and talk to one another more."

A second review of the paramedic service ordered by Health Minister Edwina Hart, to focus on performance and look at how the service is progressing its modernisation plans, is to report by the end of the year.