A CRACK team of paramedics which act as the initial NHS response to major incidents are being “belittled” by a failure to pay them in accordance with their grade, it is alleged.

About 30 staff, employed by the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NEAS) and who work as part of the hazardous area response team, have now voted to take industrial action following a ballot.

The action involves not working overtime shifts, not being deployed to standby duties and not participating in unofficial relief cover.

Both sides, the NEAS and Unison, representing the paramedics, remain in talks with the employer stating it is hopeful of reaching an agreement.

In addition to responding to 999 calls, the team provides a specialist pre-hospital response, working alongside police and fire crews at incidents involving mass casualties with the aim of saving more lives during the early stages of a major incident.

Helen Coomer, a regional organiser with Unison, said: “These highly trained and dedicated members of staff are often working in difficult and dangerous situations treating and saving the lives of the general public.

“Since January they have been trying to get the Trust to pay them the rate for the job as determined by a job evaluation scheme.

“But the Trust has refused to pay them in accordance with their grade. It is belittling the contribution made by this hard working and dedicated group of staff.”

A spokesman for the NEAS said: “We received a letter from Unison in October informing us of the outcome of a ballot for industrial action among the 30 paramedics who work in our hazardous area response team.

“We have continued to meet with Unison and these talks are currently on-going. We hope that we will be able to reach an agreement soon.

“The hazardous area response team earn the same as their counter-parts in almost every other ambulance service across the UK.

“However, there is no national job profile for their role, although additional skills and training are identified each year for staff in this category across the country."