Unpaid leave for ambulance personnel

The National Ambulance Service and trade union Siptu are set for talks at the Labour Relations Commission over concerns that pregnant paramedics may be forced to take unpaid time off before their maternity leave starts.

Pregnant paramedics undergo risk assessments, the outcome of which can see the staff member in question deployed to take on other more suitable duties.

However, Siptu officials claim that an instance has arisen where the ambulance service has determined that no other duties are available for a staff member who is pregnant, and instead of offering her alternative work have instead placed her on unpaid leave.