London Daily

Focus on the big picture.

London Ambulance Service told to improve its ethnic diversity

London Ambulance Service told to improve its ethnic diversity

The London Assembly’s health committee pointed out that minority ethnic ambulance staff were disproportionately found in the organisation’s lowest-paid roles

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has been told by City Hall to improve the ethnic diversity of its workforce.

The request was just one of several recommendations made by the London Assembly’s health committee, in a letter sent to LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles.

Only one in five LAS employees (20 per cent) come from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, despite almost one in two (46.2 per cent) people in London having a non-white background.

Mr Elkeles said the organisation is committed “to making sure our workforce is much more representative of the people of London”.

In their letter to the chief executive, the committee pointed out that the 20 per cent of minority ethnic staff were disproportionately found in the organisation’s lowest-paid roles. In the lowest four employment bands, minority representation was at 40.9 per cent, compared to 15.9 per cent in the highest bands.

Committee chair Krupesh Hirani said: “London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and our blue light services should reflect the cultures and communities they serve.

Krupesh Hirani, Labour London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow


“It is encouraging that the LAS’s new strategy includes a commitment to improving diversity in the organisation, as with only one in five of its current workforce from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, it is not truly ethnically representative of London.

Mr Hirani, a Labour member who represents Brent and Harrow on the Assembly, added: “We believe that a detailed action plan with specific targets on how it will improve diversity among frontline paramedics and the organisation as a whole would be an important step to better represent the diversity of our city.”

The committee also said that the LAS should give patients a bigger say in how services are delivered, and for targets to be set relating to public awareness and education initiatives - covering issues such as when to call 999, and what actions can prevent emergency care being required in the first place.

Commenting in response, Mr Elkeles said: “As we outlined to Greater London Authority members in a recent meeting, we recognise the big challenges ahead in providing even better emergency and urgent care for Londoners and ensuring our workforce reflects the communities we serve.

LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles


“We are in the process of developing a new long term strategy, which we want to be ambitious in laying out our vision as a leading employer in London, contributing to a healthier city and tackling health inequities. As part of this, we are committing to making sure our workforce is much more representative of the people of London.

“I welcome the input from the London Assembly and we will ensure our strategy – which we hope to publish later this year – will address their specific points.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
0:00
0:00
Close
Watchdog Recommends Expanding Acceptable ID for Voting
Internet Surpasses TV as UK's Leading News Source
House of Lords Warns UK Must Address Unsustainable Debt
Victims Unaware of Offenders' Early Release in England and Wales
Top Former US Military Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris, Criticize Trump
Kate Middleton Completes Chemotherapy, Gains New Perspective
Australia Implements Minimum Age for Social Media Use
Kim Jong Un Announces Increase in North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal
Chancellor Faces Labour MPs Over Winter Fuel Allowance Cut
Report Criticizes Sunak and Braverman for Comments on Met Police
Peter Nygard Sentenced to 11 Years for Sexual Assault
Princess Kate Resumes Public Duties Amid Cancer Treatment
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE UK COULDN'T SINK ANY LOWER… NOW UK WANT TO SUMMON ELON MUSK OVER "TOO MUCH FREE SPEECH" ON X
What Democrats hiding? CNBC SLAMS KAMALA FOR AVOIDING INTERVIEWS
Significant Corruption Concerns in Covid Contracts
Swiss politician lectures a German politician about democracy
Germany has just announced that they will be closing their borders and introducing border controls to protect the country
Greece to Impose Levy on Cruise Passengers Visiting Santorini and Mykonos
Former VP Cheney Endorses Kamala Harris for President
The Second Time Led Zeppelin Brought Steven Tyler to Tears
King Charles and Queen Camilla Commemorate the Second Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing
Harris and Walz Pledge to Reinstate 1994 Assault Weapons Ban
Balaji Srinivasan Launches Revolutionary Technocapitalist School on Private Island
IT'S HAPPENING: Absolutely massive protest in Brazil today for free speech, against their corrupt Supreme Court judge
Huawei Poised for Major AI Chip Unveil at Shenzhen Event
CIA and MI6 Chiefs Unite Amid Global Crises
UK Tycoon Mike Lynch's Cause of Death Revealed: Autopsy Report
Mass Protests Erupt Across France Against New Prime Minister Barnier
Iranian Plots to Kill Jews in Europe Unveiled
Nvidia’s AI chips are cheaper to rent in China than US
China ends tariffs on all goods exported to China from the poorest countries in the world it has diplomatic ties with, including 33 African nations
Blinken May Not Seek Another Term Due To Family Priorities
Labour Pushes for Special Tribunal Against Russia for Ukraine Invasion
Oil Companies to Contest Judicial Review of North Sea Projects
Ed Balls Urges Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to Address Winter Fuel Payments Controversy
British Army Major General Dismissed for Unwanted Advances
Campaigners Urge Bold Actions to Combat Rising Heart Disease in UK
UK Requires One Trillion Pounds Investment for Economic Growth
Plan to House Asylum Seekers at Former Dambusters Home Dropped
UK Drops Indecent Assault Charges Against Harvey Weinstein
Return of Brazilian Artworks to Bahia
UK Signs Landmark International AI Treaty
Demand for Justice After Death of Ugandan Runner Set on Fire
Ukraine's Major Government Reshuffle: Andrii Sybiha Appointed New Foreign Minister
North Korea Executes Officials Over Flood Response
French Woman Testifies in Landmark Rape Trial
Sicily Yacht Disaster: Fatal Asphyxiation Claimed More Lives
Michel Barnier Appointed as Prime Minister of France
The art technique of Grandma Mei Ling, age 82
Mongolia Refuses to Arrest Putin Despite ICC Warrant
×