Culture Under Pressure: Frontline Voices on Ambulance Service Reform with Lee McLaren

In February 2023, the National Guardian’s Office dropped a stark
warning: the culture in ambulance trusts across England was
putting both staff wellbeing and patient safety at risk. Fast
forward to this year’s Culture Review of Ambulance Trusts, and
the findings are just as sobering.


According to the 2022 NHS Staff Survey, ambulance services scored
below the national average across all seven People Promise areas,
including inclusion, wellbeing, morale, and leadership. Over 14%
of paramedics reported that their workload was directly damaging
their emotional wellbeing. And in terms of speaking up? Many
staff who raised concerns said they faced intimidation,
ostracism, or silence. The review also highlights ongoing issues
with bullying, sexual harassment, poor line management, and a
leadership style that too often leans on ‘command and control’
rather than compassion. But alongside these findings are six bold
recommendations, from fixing the speak-up culture to creating
leadership pathways that actually reflect what frontline staff
need.


So, in today’s episode, we’re asking, does this report reflect
experience working on the frontline? What’s missing? And what
does genuine culture change look like when you’re the one out
there answering the calls? I’m joined in this interview by Lee
McLaren. Lee is a Paramedic and Practice Educator with the
Ambulance Service. With a focus on human-centric leadership, Lee
champions compassionate, effective learning environments. His
work bridges clinical excellence with the development of future
healthcare professionals.


You can read the report for the basis of the interview here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/culture-review-of-ambulance-trusts/