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South East Coast Ambulance: Bullying claims to be investigated South East Coast Ambulance: Bullying claims to be investigated
(35 minutes later)
Claims of bullying at an ambulance trust are to be investigated.Claims of bullying at an ambulance trust are to be investigated.
Concerns about harassment at South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) will be studied by Prof Duncan Lewis from the University of Plymouth.Concerns about harassment at South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) will be studied by Prof Duncan Lewis from the University of Plymouth.
On Monday, The Daily Telegraph described a "culture of bullying" at the trust, with staff subjected to abuse and harassment. On Monday, The Daily Telegraph reported a "culture of bullying" at the trust's emergency call centre, with staff subjected to abuse and harassment.
The independent report is being funded externally and initial findings are expected to be revealed in the summer. Secamb said the article covered "historical allegations", most of which had been dealt with.
A project to tackle workplace bullying is also being rolled out. The trust commissioned the investigation, which is being funded externally by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
A spokesman for the ambulance trust said it formed part of broader NHS improvements and has been "extremely well received by staff so far". It said the probe has been planned for weeks and was not a result of the newspaper report. The initial investigation findings are expected in the summer.
'Disciplinary hearings'
The newspaper article, based on a dossier of documents, claimed two 999 call handlers attempted suicide and a third considered crashing her car to escape abuse.
Several workers claimed they were under such pressure they could not concentrate on emergency calls at the operations centre in Coxheath, Kent.
In response to the story, the GMB union described the trust managers as "unaccountable" and called on the government to intervene.
A project to tackle workplace bullying is also being rolled out, as part of the trust's broader recovery with NHS Improvement.
A trust spokesman said it has been "extremely well received by staff so far".
He added: "Regarding the allegations of bullying in Coxheath, this was fully investigated at the time.
"A number of disciplinary hearings were held and action taken where necessary. Those staff who raised the concerns, were and continue to be fully supported by the trust."