UNDER pressure ambulance staff are to receive support from a newly established charity.

There have been concerns about sickness levels among frontline staff working for the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and the numbers of staff leaving the service because of burnout.

Chief executive Yvonne Ormston has spoken about introducing a “cultural change” within the organisation in order to improve care for its staff.

Representatives of The Ambulance Services Charity have now visited NEAS’s Newcastle headquarters to raise awareness of the advice and support services it can provide to ambulance workers.

Its chief executive Lorna Birse-Stewart said: “We believe it is vital that this incredible band of professionals, who do so much to save lives and make a difference, are able to access support especially if they are coping with significant physical injuries, stress or post-traumatic stress illness or bereavement.

“We aim to provide a single point of contact through our dedicated and independent professional support services team and our ‘Here to Help’ free phone support line which will provide access to rehabilitation and mental health services, bereavement support and welfare debt advice."

Yvonne Ormston said: “One of our priorities is to support our staff and their families as much as possible and this charity offers a number of additional ways to do this.”