On behalf of its members the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has welcomed publication on 15th February 2024 of the review of culture across England’s NHS ambulance services and has reinforced its commitment to create and nurture an environment where everyone can feel safe, included, listened to, and able to develop themselves within the ambulance sector.
All NHS ambulance services have their own set of values and behaviours, which they expect all employees and volunteers to uphold.
The culture review was commissioned in May 2023 by NHS England following the publication of Listening to Workers – a Speak Up Review of NHS ambulance trusts in England that was published in February 2023 by the National Guardian’s Office.
It was chaired by Siobhan Melia, the chief executive officer of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust who spent time as interim chief executive at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE said:
This timely review focuses on many areas that are already a priority for the sector. We know that there is much still to be done to ensure that NHS ambulance services offer a safe, inclusive, well-led working environment for all their people where inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and concerns will be responded to appropriately and compassionately.
We are committed to moving away from outdated and inappropriate attitudes and behaviours to improve the working lives and experiences of everybody working or volunteering in our ambulance services, regardless of their background, gender, race, disability or sexual orientation. And we ask everybody – our people, volunteers and all those who engage with the ambulance service – to work with us to ensure that the NHS ambulance service is a safe, supportive and inclusive place for everyone.
This is why we very much welcome today’s important publication which has been produced by a review team with a positive desire to fully understand all of the cultural aspects of the NHS ambulance sector – as well as the context within which it operates in the broader health and social care arena.
Daren Mochrie, Chair of AACE said:
NHS ambulance services are fully supportive of the actions contained in this review and we commit as a sector to their implementation, working alongside NHS England, integrated care boards, the College of Paramedics, higher education institutions, trade unions and other organisations.
Within NHS ambulance services, there are robust policies and procedures in place for employees and volunteers to raise concerns, and we would encourage anyone affected by inappropriate behaviour to speak to someone. It is encouraging that in the majority of areas identified in today’s review – for example, leadership and management, workforce pressures and wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, bullying and harassment (including sexual harassment) – extensive programmes of work are already well advanced within the sector.
Today’s review provides us with a further impetus to continue to build upon this vital work and create meaningful and lasting change – for the benefit of our people and our patients.
