UNISON SWAAHB - South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch

UNISON SWAAHB - South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch UNISON SWAAHB covers >3200 members in SWASFT (South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust),

UNISON South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch (or SWAAHB) is an award-winning active branch of UNISON - the public services union. UNISON SWAAHB looks after three thousand Ambulance & Allied Health members in the South West and covers all UNISON members that work for the following employers:

SWASfT (South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust)
NSL Care Services (private patient transport company)
CareUK (private company running NHS 111 helpline)
E-Zec Medical (private patient transport company)
ERS (private ambulance contractor)
Bristol Ambulance (private ambulance contractor)
Wings Ambulance Service (aeromedical company)
Devon Doctors
Rapid & Secure (private specialist transport)
Kernow Ambulance
Mobile Care
Servitas
St John Ambulance (charitable organisation which employs some ambulance staff)
Plymouth University, Bournemouth University and UWE (paramedic science staff & students)

As well as current employees, SWAAHB also looks after retired members and students, proving that we are stronger together!

๐Ÿšจ NHS PAY โ€“ YOUR VOICE MATTERS ๐ŸšจNHS staff continue to deliver for patients every single day โ€” but fair pay and recogniti...
23/03/2026

๐Ÿšจ NHS PAY โ€“ YOUR VOICE MATTERS ๐Ÿšจ

NHS staff continue to deliver for patients every single day โ€” but fair pay and recognition still arenโ€™t where they need to be.

Now is the time to stand together and make our voices heard.

โœ๏ธ Sign the letter today:
https://action.nhspay.org/page/187023/petition/1

This is a simple but powerful way to:
โœ… Show support for NHS workers
โœ… Push for fair pay and proper recognition
โœ… Send a clear message to decision-makers

It only takes a minute โ€” but the impact is much bigger.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Every signature counts. Every voice matters.
๐Ÿ“ข Please sign and share with colleagues, friends, and family.

Who is UNISON?UNISON isnโ€™t an outside organisation.UNISON is you.We are paramedics, technicians, ECAs and EAAs respondin...
14/03/2026

Who is UNISON?

UNISON isnโ€™t an outside organisation.
UNISON is you.

We are paramedics, technicians, ECAs and EAAs responding to patients on the road.

We are CTMs and team leaders supporting crews and managing stations.

We are support services and admin staff keeping the service running behind the scenes.

We are EMDs, dispatchers and hub clinicians coordinating care and getting help where itโ€™s needed most.

We are staff from every part of the ambulance service.

UNISON reps are volunteers. We do this alongside our day jobs because we believe in standing up for our colleagues.

We represent members, challenge decisions when needed, and campaign for improvements across the service.

When we speak up to the Trust, support a member in difficulty, or campaign for change โ€” we do it together.

Thatโ€™s the strength of a union. โœŠThatโ€™s the strength of UNISON.

๐Ÿšจ ENOUGH IS ENOUGH โ€“ FROZEN ROLLING RELIEF MUST CHANGE ๐ŸšจRolling Relief balances were frozen in April 2025 and many membe...
11/03/2026

๐Ÿšจ ENOUGH IS ENOUGH โ€“ FROZEN ROLLING RELIEF MUST CHANGE ๐Ÿšจ

Rolling Relief balances were frozen in April 2025 and many members are still waiting for answers. Progress has been slow, communication poor, and membersโ€™ patience has run out.

SWAST have said they will only hear one collective grievance โ€” so letโ€™s make it as big and powerful as possible.

๐Ÿ’ช Add your name to the collective grievance here:
๐Ÿ”— https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUolg35BL93RJsCIUgiPlShhUOVRPR04wQThQQzJRTTI3VDRIMjA2VVVIVS4u&origin=lprLink&route=shorturl

โœ” Sign the form
โœ” Encourage your UNISON colleagues to join
โœ” Non-members can join UNISON and be included

๐Ÿ“ข Stand together. Be counted. Letโ€™s make SWAST listen. โœŠ

๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰
11/03/2026

๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

๐Ÿšจ BREAKING: Gloucestershire phlebotomists have ended their year-long strike.

Following talks with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, staff have accepted a deal that will see their pay and roles reviewed by an independent job evaluation panel.

โ€œAfter 349 days on strike, staff are relieved the trust has finally recognised the need to review pay."

Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible women across our ambulance service. ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿš‘Today we celebrate the stren...
08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible women across our ambulance service. ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿš‘

Today we celebrate the strength, dedication, and leadership of women working across the South Western Ambulance Service โ€” from frontline clinicians and control room staff to support roles, managers, and union activists. Every day, women play a vital role in caring for our communities and supporting colleagues.

At UNISON SWAAHB, we are proud of the many women who stand up for fairness, equality, and better workplaces for all.

Thank you for everything you do โ€” today and every day. โœŠ

๐Ÿšจ FROZEN ROLLING RELIEF โ€“ MEMBER UPDATE ๐ŸšจUNISON has received initial legal advice regarding validated hours.๐Ÿ‘‰ If you are...
07/03/2026

๐Ÿšจ FROZEN ROLLING RELIEF โ€“ MEMBER UPDATE ๐Ÿšจ

UNISON has received initial legal advice regarding validated hours.

๐Ÿ‘‰ If you are invited to discuss or agree your hours, appeal and respond with:
"I am not agreeing to this proposal, pending legal advice from my union."

โ— Do NOT agree to any repayment proposal โ€“ this includes both positive and negative frozen hours.
Members are advised not to sign or accept anything until full legal advice is received (expected in at least two weeks).

โœŠ Join the collective grievance to challenge this process:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUolg35BL93RJsCIUgiPlShhUOVRPR04wQThQQzJRTTI3VDRIMjA2VVVIVS4u&route=shorturl

Stand together. Protect yourself. Protect your colleagues. ๐Ÿ’œ

02/03/2026

๐Ÿ”ฅ ENOUGH IS ENOUGH โ€“ FROZEN ROLLING RELIEF MUST CHANGE ๐Ÿ”ฅ

For months, weโ€™ve waited. Balances frozen in April 2025 still havenโ€™t been resolved. SWAST promised action โ€” but progress is slow, communication is poor, and patience has run out.

We are angry โ€” rightly so. Weโ€™ve worked hard, followed the rules, and yet Rolling Relief has been mismanaged from the start. We deserve better. We deserve fairness. We deserve our RR balance corrected.

But there is hope. UNISON will not sit back and accept this. Together, we have power. Together, we can force change. SWAST may want to hear UNISON led grievances collectively โ€” so letโ€™s make this the BIGGEST collective grievance possible. Let them feel the full force of our voices.

๐Ÿ’ช Hereโ€™s what you can do RIGHT NOW

Complete the attached form with your details to join the collective grievance.
Add your name โ€” every single member strengthens the case.

Encourage UNISON member colleagues to join - the more of us, the harder it is for SWAST to ignore. If your colleagues are not already UNISON members they can join now and be included in the collective grievance. This is our moment.
Balances frozen for almost a year. Progress stalled. Enough is enough.

๐Ÿ“ข Sign the form. Add your name. Take action. Together, we will make SWAST act.
Now is the time. Stand together. Be counted. Make change happen.

Many have sent an individual grievance to SWAST about this. And SWAST are still trying to discourage you from speaking up. SWAST are now saying they will only hear a single collective grievance. If they think this will make things quieten down, let's work together to prove them wrong.

๐Ÿš— NHS Mileage Rates Update โ€“ Have Your Say ๐Ÿ’ฌAt the start of 2026, NHS mileage rates dropped due to sustained falls in fu...
16/02/2026

๐Ÿš— NHS Mileage Rates Update โ€“ Have Your Say ๐Ÿ’ฌ

At the start of 2026, NHS mileage rates dropped due to sustained falls in fuel prices at the pumps. However, we know that while fuel costs may have reduced, other motoring costs โ€“ including insurance, servicing, tyres and maintenance โ€“ have continued to rise, leaving many staff out of pocket when using their own vehicles for work.

UNISON has been campaigning for a fairer system that properly reflects the true cost of motoring. Following national negotiations, a new proposed mileage mechanism has been developed which would:

โœ… Better reflect wider motoring cost inflation
โœ… Increase the higher-rate threshold from 3,500 to 4,500 miles
โœ… Introduce more regular reviews of rates
โœ… Provide greater predictability and fairness for staff

UNISON branches are now being consulted on whether to support this proposal.

๐Ÿ—“ The consultation closes on Friday 27 February.

Itโ€™s really important we hear directly from members who rely on their own vehicles for work.

๐Ÿ“ฉ Please share your views by contacting the branch so we can ensure your experiences shape the final decision.

Together, we can push for mileage rates that are fair and properly recognise the costs our members face. ๐Ÿ’œ

11/02/2026

๐Ÿ“ฃ Update on the Senior Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Role ๐Ÿ“ฃ

Weโ€™re pleased to share a further joint update from the Trust and UNISON on the implementation of the Senior EMD role, first outlined in the Bulletin on 15 January.

Work is continuing at pace on the implementation plan, and engagement with our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) colleagues will begin week commencing 2 March.

While co-located in Exeter, this engagement will give colleagues the opportunity to:

๐Ÿ”น Hear more detail about the process, timeline and next steps
๐Ÿ”น Ask questions and share views
๐Ÿ”น Understand what this means for them and their teams

This development is more than just a new title โ€” itโ€™s a real investment in leadership within EOC. The changes include:

โœ… Increased Team Leader capacity
โœ… Introduction of Development Team Leader roles
โœ… Stronger support for colleagues transitioning from training into live operations

Enhanced leadership means better day-to-day support, an improved experience at work, and ultimately a stronger service for our patients and the public.

A huge thank you to Robin Hughes and Emma Robinson, who continue to represent members and work closely with the Trust to ensure this implementation is fair, supportive and delivers real benefit for our EMD workforce.

Weโ€™ll continue to keep you updated as engagement progresses โ€” watch this space ๐Ÿ‘€

๐ŸŒ UNISON โ€“ Year of the Green 2026 ๐ŸŒAs part of UNISONโ€™s Year of the Green 2026, we want to hear directly from you.Do you ...
09/02/2026

๐ŸŒ UNISON โ€“ Year of the Green 2026 ๐ŸŒ

As part of UNISONโ€™s Year of the Green 2026, we want to hear directly from you.

Do you have ideas, suggestions, or solutions to help SWAST become more sustainable and move towards net zero? This could be anything from fleet and estates, waste reduction, energy use, uniforms, equipment, or day-to-day working practices.

๐Ÿ’ก Your ideas matter.
UNISON can collate membersโ€™ suggestions and use them to push for meaningful change with the Trust.

๐Ÿ“ง Please email your sustainability ideas to:
UNISON@swast.nhs.uk

Letโ€™s work together to create positive, practical change for our environment, our service, and our future. ๐ŸŒฑ
Every idea counts.

๐Ÿ‘‹ Hello everyone,Iโ€™m Sophie, and Iโ€™m really pleased to be introducing myself as your new UNISON SWAAHB Young Membersโ€™ Of...
05/02/2026

๐Ÿ‘‹ Hello everyone,

Iโ€™m Sophie, and Iโ€™m really pleased to be introducing myself as your new UNISON SWAAHB Young Membersโ€™ Officer. I work as a paramedic based at Almondsbury in BNSSG, and Iโ€™m really looking forward to representing and supporting young members across the branch.

Separately, there are a few areas Iโ€™m particularly passionate about within the union. These include protecting the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues, especially those working on the frontline and in EOC, and promoting fairness and equality in the workplace. Iโ€™m keen to support work that helps make our branch a place where people feel valued and supported, and enables our members to become more active within their union.

Outside of work and union life, I spend my free time watching true crime documentaries, following Bristol City (which is often more stressful โ€” and sometimes scarier โ€” than the true crime!), or snuggling with our dogs, Bruno and Tyson.

If youโ€™re a young member, aged 30 or under, and have ideas, concerns, or would like to get more involved, Iโ€™d love to hear from you.

Sophie Giltinan
UNISON Young Membersโ€™ Officer

03/02/2026

๐Ÿ“ข Need UNISON support or advice? Start with an email.

The best way to seek support, get advice, or be put in touch with a UNISON rep is by emailing UNISON@swast.nhs.uk
๐Ÿ“ง

Whether you have a concern, a query, or just need some advice, please send us an email and a member of the UNISON team will get back to you as soon as possible.

โš ๏ธ Important: If you need support during a sickness absence or sickness stage, itโ€™s vital to contact UNISON at the earliest opportunity. If weโ€™re contacted too late in the process, it may limit the support weโ€™re able to provide.

Weโ€™re here to help โ€” just make sure you reach out early ๐Ÿ’›

Address

C/o Branch Secretary, SWASFT HQ, Abbey Court, Eagle Way
Exeter
EX27HY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447773034636

Website

https://linktr.ee/swaahb

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UNISON SWAAHB - South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to UNISON SWAAHB - South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Your Voice in the South West

UNISON South Western Ambulance & Allied Health Branch (or SWAAHB) is an award-winning active branch of UNISON - the public services union. UNISON SWAAHB looks after three thousand Ambulance & Allied Health members in the South West and covers all UNISON members that work for the following employers: SWASfT (South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust) NSL Care Services (private patient transport company) CareUK (private company running NHS 111 helpline) E-Zec Medical (private patient transport company) ERS (private ambulance contractor) Arriva (bus company that also runs patient transport) Bristol Ambulance (private ambulance contractor) Wings Ambulance Service (aeromedical company) Devon Doctors Rapid & Secure (private specialist transport) Kernow Ambulance Mobile Care Servitas St John Ambulance (charitable organisation which employs some ambulance staff) Plymouth University, Bournemouth University and UWE (paramedic science staff & students) As well as current employees, SWAAHB also looks after retired members and students, proving that we are stronger together!