FBU press release

Nottinghamshire fire crews have voted four to one (81%) in favour of taking industrial action short of a strike over moves to force them to provide an ambulance service. The Fire Brigades Union says the fire authority is trying to impose new ambulance duties without negotiation.

Fire crews are likely to refuse to attend ambulance calls as part of the industrial action. The union has major concerns that desperately needed fire service resources will be diverted to attend medical emergencies for which they are not trained.

One of the first calls taken under the scheme saw ONLY a fire appliance sent to attend a medical emergency. The ambulance service were unable to send an ambulance at that time.

Nottinghamshire FBU Brigade Secretary Ian Young said:

"Nottinghamshire's fire crews have given their verdict on plans to force them to provide an ambulance service. The fire authority has failed to negotiate as they are required to do and that is unacceptable.

"This plan makes as much sense as ordering the police service to provide an ambulance service because they have fast squad cars and first aid training. No one would think of sending an ambulance to put out a fire just because there is a fire extinguisher on board.

"Fire crews and the public would be at risk if there is a delay in attending incidents because we are being used as an ambulance service. This scheme is not about saving lives it is designed solely to fiddle the figures for ambulance response times.

"The failing East Midlands Ambulance Service must explain why it cannot ensure a speedy response to all 999 calls. If it cannot perform the basics of what it is set up to do then that needs to be dealt with by the NHS."

Media contacts: Ian Young- 07834 210330; Kev Meads on Mobile - 07966 959372; Steve Ainley on Mobile 07915 617632; Phil Coates on Mobile 07725 229173