Bus lane fines for ambulance crews must end, says UNISON

Ambulance crews are being hit with fines for using empty bus lanes, says UNISON today (Wednesday). Many UK cities are banning ambulances from public transport lanes when it’s not a 999 emergency, according to the union. Many ambulance drivers, who use the lanes to avoid traffic and speed up journeys for patients needing vital care, have received penalties, delegates attending UNISON’s annual health conference in Bournemouth heard. Patients who are in discomfort or need vital treatment such as dialysis could end up stuck in traffic congestion if the fines continue, says UNISON. The clampdown also puts further pressure on the NHS as people miss appointments because the ambulance they’re travelling in is caught in city centre gridlock. The picture is mixed, the conference heard, with individual towns and cities across the UK adopting different approaches. This lack of consistencycan cause confusion for crews moving between areas, says UNISON. Richard Bentley from UNISON’s Yorkshire Ambulance Service Branch said he can use bus lanes in Leeds but not in other cities. The paramedic said: “If I leave Leeds and head to Bradford or York, I’m subject to a £60 fine. That’s if I forget I’m not allowed to use their bus lanes. Several colleagues have fallen foul of this and there’s nothing we can do.” UNISON North East Ambulance Service branch secretary Joel Byers said: “If ambulance services use taxis to transport patients, those vehicles can use bus lanes yet ambu...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release Source Type: news