FINANCIAL pressure on the ambulance service could put patient care at risk, according to campaigners who have released a report from under-fire staff.
Paramedics from the South West Ambulance Service contacted campaign group 38 Degrees Gloucestershire with a list of concerns over under-funding they fear will seriously compromise their ability to perform their roles.
The report claims under-qualified staff and inappropriate levels of cover are putting lives at risk.
It claims non-clinicians with lower levels of training and pay are being crewed together, rather than with a paramedic, and under-equipped support vehicles are being used.
Staff are also being poorly managed, sometimes by staff facing redundancy, it alleges.
Fewer ambulances and emergency vehicles replaced with Patient Support Vehicles are also worrying staff.
Bases in Staverton and Stroud are particularly under pressure, according to the report.
David Perry, from the 38 Degrees group, said: "The merging of emergency and scheduled services within the SWAS has created extra pressures, as ambulances are diverted to other areas in the expanded region of the South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.
"Gloucestershire are finding themselves diverted to respond to calls over greater distances, especially to the Swindon and Bristol areas and further south. Staff morale is at an all time low and stress levels are increasing amongst the workforce."
Highlighting two of the most serious issues, Mr Perry wrote: "Fewer ambulances are available to cope with emergencies and lower qualified staff are finding themselves crewed together and expected to manage patients and situations outside of their scope of practice.
"Inadequately trained crew and under-equipped ambulances are being sent to critical emergencies. And in some instances, ambulances are being sent over long distances to emergencies that need very prompt treatment."
The Trust responded to issues raised in the report about Dursley ambulances, but declined to comment on the other claims listed above.
