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Pay ambulance staff a decent wage
PAUL DONOVAN calls for outsourced Ambulance Care Assistants' pay to match the minimum level of NHS wages
[Ian Taylor / Creative Commons]

THE NHS came to the rescue of so many during the Covid pandemic — everyone clapped to show appreciation. One group of workers applauded, little-known to the public, were the Ambulance Care Assistants (ACA).

These brave people move patients to and from the hospitals. There are many such cases, including people unable to move or suffering with dementia, where there is a need for mental and physical toughness among ACAs, who witness trauma on a daily basis.

The challenge of the work involved was illustrated in actor, writer and ACA Marissa Landy’s excellent play, Non-Emergency.

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