UNISON North East Ambulance branch wins new uniforms for North East Ambulance staff. Paramedics, Patient Transport Service crews, Ambulance Care Assistants, Technicians and Advanced Practitioners – all of our members in these job are required to be outside in bad weather.
Following contact from members raising concerns that uniforms for front line staff were not fit for purpose, UNISON carried out a uniform survey of our members in 2020 to better understand what our members were looking for. Almost 700 people completed the survey. The results were clear that the uniform needed to be more waterproof, windproof and durable.
Following the result of that survey UNISON has been negotiating with the North East Ambulance Service to resolve this issue. A jackets trial and road show took place towards the end of 2020 and as a result, new, good quality jackets were ordered in December 2020 and are due to be delivered in March 2021.
Joel Byers, Branch Secretary said:
“This is a real result for our members who will now be protected from the elements. It may sound like a small thing but we can’t underestimate the importance of proper protective clothing on making sure staff feel safe and supported at work, and able to focus on the job in hand. We are now working on securing new uniforms for our EOC and contact centre members”.