LONG hours and staff shortages are stretching paramedics and ambulance services to breaking point, a new report has revealed.
A survey by the union Unison has found that more than nine out of 10 ambulance workers say the demands of their job are causing them to suffer from stress and experience symptoms associated with debilitating anxiety.
The poll of nearly 3,000 workers in Scotland and the rest of the UK found that three quarters (74 per cent) are suffering from sleep problems, 72 per cent said they feel irritable as a result and experienced mood swings, and more than half (56 per cent) are gripped with anxiety.
Nearly two in five (38%) said they have had to take time off sick because of work-related stress and a quarter (26%) admitted they were close to doing so.
As a result of pressures on the service and workers, four out of five (82%) said they have thought about leaving the job.
The union said it is concerned that employers are not fulfilling their duty of care as more than half of the respondents said they were unaware of any steps being taken by their employer to remove or reduce stress.
One paramedic spoke of how hospital closures meant they now have to drive hundreds of miles every day.
"Too few ambulances, missed meals and 16 or 17 hour shifts would stress anyone," he said.
Others described being tearful, suffering with migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder and exhaustion.
Matt McLaughlin, Regional Organiser for Health at Unison Scotland, said that stress can have a hugely detrimental effect on workers' well-being and that more should be done to ease their workloads.
He said: "We are aware of high levels of stress among ambulance staff, caused by the target culture of the NHS, long hours at the job, staff shortages and in some cases the difficult 'shouts' they are called out on.
"It says a lot about the nature of the job that some members are reporting loosing sleep and other harmful effects because of the pressure they are under.
"Right across the NHS, including Scotland, people are being required to do more with fewer resources and less back-up."
He added: "More staff are needed to take the strain and help others do the job to the best of their abilities.
"NHS Boards must also ensure that resource levels do not drop at the busiest times when ambulance drivers will be under the greatest pressure."
Unison head of health Christina McAnea said: "Working in emergency services is stressful but the pressure on ambulance staff is reaching dangerously high levels.
"It is unacceptable that the current system doesn't allow for proper breaks between shifts. Workers have told us they often work 14-hour shifts without a decent break.
"Higher call out rates and lengthy waits outside A&E departments are adding to the problem. It is clear that the pressure caused by government funding cuts is having a huge impact on staff and on patient safety.
"The pressure on workers is mounting and the apparent lack of support from their employers means they are suffering in silence. Year after year the levels of stress remain unacceptably high and yet neither employers nor the government have done anything to address this. It is no wonder areas such as London are now having to go to the other side of the world to recruit paramedics."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the service had received resource increases in both 2014/15 and 2015/16, which has allowed additional staff to be recruited and trained year on year since September 2007.
She added: "Ambulance workers will also be receiving the pay rise recommend by the pay review bodies which have been denied to ambulance staff in England. Ambulance service managers are working closely with trade union partners and staff to develop strategies to prevent stress and promote health and wellbeing."
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