Ambulance driver disqualified for alcohol offence
A Great Western ambulance driver has been disqualified for drink driving.
The member of Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) staff was prevented from driving vehicles in the 2008/09 financial year according to information obtained by the Evening Post using the Freedom of Information Act.
-
No other employees of the ambulance service that operates in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the former Avon area were disqualified from driving in that year.
The trust employs almost 1,700 members of staff across its operation, from paramedics to support staff.
GWAS would not provide specific details about the individual, who was disqualified due to driving over the alcohol limit, but it confirmed that the person did a job that required a clean driving licence.
It said that no Bristol-based staff had been disqualified from driving in the last financial year.
All GWAS frontline ambulance staff are required to have a clean driving licence as part of their role.
If technicians, paramedics, emergency care assistants or emergency care practitioners are employed by the ambulance service they need to be able to drive to carry out their work.
The health trust said that staff who are employed in a driving role and are subsequently disqualified from driving are usually dismissed, but sometimes they can be given support in applying for alternative positions.
GWAS spokesman John Oliver said: "For staff where a clean, valid driving licence is an essential requirement for their role, this is clearly stated in their contract of employment and job specification.
"Therefore, should a member of staff subsequently be disqualified from driving, that would normally necessitate them being dismissed from that role.
"However, wherever appropriate, the trust would encourage and support the individual in applying for other suitable roles within the organisation."
17 Comments
View all
by Rachael, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:45PM
“Sorry - trying to do five things at once and multi-tasking is not something I'm that good at.
It was 30 miles.”
by Rachael, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:43PM
“Sorry, I did mess up there, it was 30 - teach me to post while trying to do 5 things at once!”
by Steven, North Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:33PM
“*Paramedics saved my life when I was child by getting me to hospital 60 miles away in about 20 mins*
Well done to the m indeed, Rachael. That averages out at about 180mph.”
by Wholetime Firefighter, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:16PM
“What exactly have you got against the emergency services, BEP? Is the editor, (and the majority of your 'journalists') a fireman, paramedic or policeman wannabe, but knows that, when push comes to the shove, they know they aren't up to it?
I haven't seen an 'Evening Post' on a fire station for a long time.
I wonder why?”
by Rachael, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 2:22PM
“Well done BEP. Tarnishing the vast majority of brilliant emergency services people with one idiot's story.
Paramedics saved my life when I was child by getting me to hospital 60 miles away in about 20 mins. It's the ones like that that should be reported about not this t**t!”
by Ted, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 2:18PM
“Julraj,back to bed mate,sleep it off.”
by julraj, brizzle
Thursday, June 11 2009, 2:00PM
“who's to say he can't get his booze on whilst at work?”
by Madge, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 1:49PM
“Correct Jason,good news for the economy,but what terrible news for the Conservative party.”
by Jason, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 1:38PM
“Couldnt agree more with Tina, What about reporting on what economists are saying,that the economy grew 0.2% in April,and 0.1% in may,and that if this growth rate continues through June it would mean the recession would be officially over,or is this news too good to be reported?”
by Elizabeth, Bristol
Thursday, June 11 2009, 1:32PM
“Sue, you do have the right to reply to any of these comments aimed at you. Nothing to say? Thought not.”