The North East Ambulance Branch (NEAS) of UNISON Northern launched its campaign to find local champions working within North East Ambulance Service on Thursday 8 December which will run through to the evening of the 20th January at an awards and celebration event. To find these ‘champions’ UNISON is asking its members and the public to nominate their “public services champions” from within the service.
Catherine McKinnell MP for Newcastle North joined the launch and said: “The staff within the NHS and the ambulance service are dedicated, hard working and caring and I am pleased to be supporting this initiative. The staff continue to deliver a high standard of service despite the fact that the North East Ambulance Service has the lowest funding per population than any other service in the UK.”
Clare Williams, UNISON regional secretary said: “North East Ambulance employees go the extra mile for the general public and their families and UNISON wants to celebrate this. This means not just the staff working with the public such as paramedics, we also want to shine a light on the great work being done by UNISON members who do not always get the recognition they deserve but play a vital role in the care of patients. “
Joel Byers, NEAS Branch Secretary said: “We feel the campaign is an ideal opportunity for UNISON to show their support and thanks to our hard working members whilst highlighting the terrible funding situation they are working under and the failure of central government to fund our NHS services appropriately.”
“The aim will be to celebrate our champions and highlight the difficulties of working with reduced funding and how this impacts not only on staff but also on the people of the North East. “
The launch also heard from Emma Jenkinson about her excellent experience of the ambulance service following her car accident.
To nominate please download the form HERE and email northern@unison.co.uk giving the name of the person you want to nominate, plus contact details and a brief description of why you want to nominate them. Nominations close on Friday 13 January 2017.