Well La Dee Da
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is not a free service - we all pay for it out of our taxes - the service is 'free' only at the point people have to use it - which normally means calling for an ambulance.
Though in these enlightened times you would think that the SAS would feel it had a wider duty - not just to manage the day to day service - but to treat members of the public with courtesy and respect.
So imagine my surprise when I submitted a Freedom of Information Scotland Act (FOISA) request to the SAS recently - only to find that the SAS isn't too keen on sharing information about the service.
Here's what I asked the SAS:
1. How many ambulance personnel are affected by the current SAS policy on rest breaks?
2. How many ambulance personnel have opted to give up their uninterrupted rest breaks - and what is the current annual cost of the additional £5 payment?
3. In 2010 (or equivalent 12 month period) on how many occasions were ambulance crews interrupted during their rest breaks - what percentage does this figure represent?
4. If an ambulance crew is interrupted during a rest break - is the crew still entitled to a break later on during that same shift?
And here's what the SAS said in their reply:
1 – 4 We are currently negotiating with staff around meal break issues and would not wish to comment at this stage until the negotiations are complete. I will write to you again should that position change.
Well la dee da!
The SAS clearly have the information I requested - they just don't want to share it - nor do they explain how this could possibly impact - in any detrimental way - on discussions that are underway with staff.
My interest in the SAS 'rest breaks' policy lies in understanding the scale of the problem - is a mountain or a molehill - the problem is no one knows and the SAS doesn't want to say.
As a public service - and a monopoly supplier of that service - you would think the SAS would be only too happy to explain the background and what's going on - to improve the situation.
But no - they're stonewalling - abusing FOISA by forcing people to ask for a review and possibly to go all the way to the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).
A process which takes months and months to complete - of course.
So I have asked for a review - I will go to SIC, if necessary - and I will be complaining about the SAS to the Public Services Ombudsman.
The essence of my complaint will be - what a way to run a public service?
You'd think the ambulance service was wholly owned by the SAS - and not the people of Scotland.
Though in these enlightened times you would think that the SAS would feel it had a wider duty - not just to manage the day to day service - but to treat members of the public with courtesy and respect.
So imagine my surprise when I submitted a Freedom of Information Scotland Act (FOISA) request to the SAS recently - only to find that the SAS isn't too keen on sharing information about the service.
Here's what I asked the SAS:
1. How many ambulance personnel are affected by the current SAS policy on rest breaks?
2. How many ambulance personnel have opted to give up their uninterrupted rest breaks - and what is the current annual cost of the additional £5 payment?
3. In 2010 (or equivalent 12 month period) on how many occasions were ambulance crews interrupted during their rest breaks - what percentage does this figure represent?
4. If an ambulance crew is interrupted during a rest break - is the crew still entitled to a break later on during that same shift?
And here's what the SAS said in their reply:
1 – 4 We are currently negotiating with staff around meal break issues and would not wish to comment at this stage until the negotiations are complete. I will write to you again should that position change.
Well la dee da!
The SAS clearly have the information I requested - they just don't want to share it - nor do they explain how this could possibly impact - in any detrimental way - on discussions that are underway with staff.
My interest in the SAS 'rest breaks' policy lies in understanding the scale of the problem - is a mountain or a molehill - the problem is no one knows and the SAS doesn't want to say.
As a public service - and a monopoly supplier of that service - you would think the SAS would be only too happy to explain the background and what's going on - to improve the situation.
But no - they're stonewalling - abusing FOISA by forcing people to ask for a review and possibly to go all the way to the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).
A process which takes months and months to complete - of course.
So I have asked for a review - I will go to SIC, if necessary - and I will be complaining about the SAS to the Public Services Ombudsman.
The essence of my complaint will be - what a way to run a public service?
You'd think the ambulance service was wholly owned by the SAS - and not the people of Scotland.
