Emergency services never stop working

Fire and ambulance staff will turn up on New Year's Eve for love rather than money. By Alex Watson

While the less organised among us are still deciding how to spend New Year's Eve, many people are spared the dilemma because they will be working. Indeed, with babysitters demanding as much as pounds 800 a night and bar staff in some nightclubs being offered pounds 1,000, it seems like a lucrative option. But some employees, including staff in the fire and ambulance services, are not so lucky and many do not even have a choice.

Only last month London ambulance staff attacked the Government's proposals to pay them pounds 150 extra to work on millennium eve, on top of double pay and a day in lieu. They had asked for a pounds 500 payment bonus for millennium night and pounds 250 for a shift on New Year's day. There was similar discontent from firefighters, who will receive bank holiday rates, which amounts to double pay and a day in lieu. In effect, this means that workers will get paid more to serve a pint on millennium eve than they will to save a life.

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service explains: "The NHS cannot match private sector pay. We recognise that staff will be working extremely hard, but this is the most we can offer. If we could pay staff more, we would." And despite criticism over the pay deal by firefighters unions, no extra money was offered. A fire brigades spokeswoman says: "The millennium shift will be pretty much business as usual. We're an emergency service and people expect the fire service to be there on New Year's Eve as on any other day of the year."

Nick Isles, external affairs manager at the Institute of Personnel and Development, agrees that financial incentives are mainly offered in the private sector, but he says that employers such as the emergency services, who cannot afford lucrative packages can offer other incentives.

"Employers can give extra time off for working, and they can lay on services for people working the millennium eve shift such as special food, entertainment, or transport home. There are lots of things that can be done to show employees that the effort they are making is being appreciated," adds Mr Isles.

Both the fire and ambulance services will be trying to make the night more pleasant for employees. As well as giving staff working the millennium night shift a day in lieu, fire stations will be suspending their on-duty routine. The fire brigades spokeswoman explains: "Although the firefighters are ready and alert to go on calls, there are none of the usual drills, training routines and going out on inspections. Instead they can relax, watching television, reading, or just talking." As well as a day in lieu, the ambulance service will be making sure ambulance staff are supplied with hot food and drink throughout the night. It is, however, often the busiest night of the year for the emergency services. The ambulance service spokesman says: "Our staff will be working just as hard if not harder than anyone. It is always a very busy night, there's not much time for breaks between calls and staff accept they will be very busy."

The dedication of staff means employers can help most by ensuring staff have the best possible conditions in which to carry out their work. It is a tribute to ambulance staff, the spokesman says, that they want to do the job and get it done as best they can.

"A paramedic earns just over pounds 9 an hour so it's not the best paid job in the world. People don't get into it to get rich. It is a job you do because you want to help people and not for the reward you will get," he adds.

Similarly, firefighters are driven by their commitment. From the start of the recruitment process they know it is a 24-hour service and they will not get weekends and nights off as they would in a nine-to-five job.

"There is a certain amount of flexibility and good leave conditions, so it is a good career, but unfortunately fires happen at all times of night. Firefighters are committed people, they take a pride in the job they do and the service they provide," says the fire brigades spokeswoman.