Fears for patient safety as move to allow Aberdeen students to shadow ambulance staff in Caithness and Sutherland branded ‘totally inappropriate’
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SHOCKED health workers fear lives could be at risk after ambulance bosses ordered them to take Aberdeen students into medical vehicles in Caithness and Sutherland.
On Monday this week, six Robert Gordon University (RGU) undergraduates began work placements in the area, with two stationed at each of Golspie, Wick and Thurso.
The students will shadow paramedics and other NHS staff within ambulances and patient transfer vehicles (PTVs), taking a purely observational role.
But one concerned worker says that will bring them into close contact with people particularly vulnerable to the ill-effects of Covid-19 infection, including cancer and kidney dialysis patients.
The employee contacted the Caithness Courier to express alarm at a “totally inappropriate” Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) decision which they say is opposed by most local paramedics and patient transfer staff.
They feel the move, imposed without consultation, flies in the face of current Scottish Government Covid-19 restrictions warning against “non-essential” travel for work or other reasons.
The source said that staff involved are at a loss to understand why the local community, NHS staff and vulnerable patients are being put at greater infection risk, particularly within the close confines of vehicles.
But the SAS and RGU said safe working practices had been put in place and that students would be vaccinated along with other health workers, as well as having regular testing.
Student placements were stopped in March when the first lockdown began, a ban that continued until this week.
Non-essential personnel are banned from ambulance stations and NHS premises nationwide. Staff are not even allowed in stations when not on shift.
Thurso and Wick A&E each have around 15 paramedics and technicians, plus a small number employed in patient transport, with a smaller crew in Golspie.
The NHS worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “From a public health perspective, this undoubtedly risks lives. They’re taking someone from a high risk area like Aberdeen and putting them into close contact with the public and patients here in Caithness and Sutherland.
“It unnecessarily exposes staff and patients to a higher level of infection risk.
“They will be attending A&E jobs, going to people’s houses and they are being placed with the most vulnerable of patients, straight off.
“As a staff, everyone is at a loss to find the logic behind it. Mentors, specific paramedics, have been put in charge of the students and they see it as totally unacceptable in terms of infection control and the lockdown.
“The public has a right to know this is going on. It is completely in the public interest to highlight this as it could affect them and their families.”
Another fear is that the move could damage patient trust, with paramedics having to discuss the presence of students with patients in their care.
The worker said paramedics and patient transfer staff had been stoic and resilient since the pandemic struck.
But with frequent staff absences for Covid-related reasons, colleagues were nearing “breaking point” in terms of fatigue and emotional strain.
The employee stressed: “I’m worried. I’m losing sleep over this. I’m incredulous, really, having worked so hard throughout the pandemic to limit risk. There doesn’t seem to be any recourse.
“Staff, as professionals, have dealt with demands through the pandemic with resilience and humour.
“But on an emotional level, now, there is a high level of battle-weariness, particularly with decisions like this thrust upon them.
“Staff are exhausted, anxious, chronically stressed and some are reaching breaking point.
“It is insulting. They feel totally defeated and feel the ambulance service simply doesn’t care about them.”
From 2022, prospective paramedics will require the minimum of an honours degree.
The Courier put the worker’s accusations to the SAS and asked for clarification on many details of the student placements, including whether the students self-isolated before travelling to Caithness, but the service did not answer these questions.
However, an SAS spokesman said: “Students form an important part of our future workforce and require training and support to complete their studies and be available for future employment with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“They are being supported whilst on placement by practice placement educators to ensure safe systems of work are in place.
“All students were face-fitted for Covid-appropriate PPE prior to placement and will be vaccinated with the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this week.
“They have also been provided with lateral flow testing kits and will carry out self-tests regularly whilst on placement.
“SAS is working within guidance provided by the Scottish Government.”
A spokesperson for RGU said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students and the wider public remains of paramount importance to us.
“All practice education for student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, which includes paramedics, is adhering to Scottish Government guidance to protect the health and safety of service users, staff and students.
“We are working in close partnership with NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Ambulance Service and placement providers to ensure critical education (for) our future workforce continues.
“All of our students on placement ... will be offered vaccination appointments in the same way as permanent staff.
“We cannot understate the hard work and dedication of our placement students and recent graduates who are supporting the vital work of the health services throughout the pandemic.”
