The Sunday Mail
3 September 2006
I'M AIR SICK
999 helicopter heroine sues bosses for bullying
By Russell Findlay
AN air ambulance heroine claims she was forced out of her job by bullying bosses.
Mum-of-two Linda Irving, 40, was presented with an award by First Minister Jack McConnell as Scotland's only female air ambulance paramedic.
But she quit the Scottish Ambulance Service after suffering depression and post-traumatic stress. Linda flew on missions across Scotland on Helimed 5 before joining a paramedic team in Balfron, Stirlingshire.
Now she is suing ambulance chiefs after 15 years of saving lives.
Linda claims she:
Was victimised by management who tried to make her attend training on her days off, forcing her to be on stand-by for 116 hours non-stop.
Received threatening phone calls to her home while off sick, telling her she would do as she was told by bosses.
A friend said: "The SAS recently offered Linda an out-of-court settlement but she is pursuing further legal action.
"While working on Helimed 5 she was witness to incompetence from the management - quite often the aircraft would not fly for days on end.
"She had to take a grievance against the SAS as she was the only person not being paid according to her terms and conditions - coincidentally, she was the only female.
"She won that grievance and received several thousand pounds in back pay but only after it went to chief executive level and senior union officials got involved. The SAS conducted an investigation into Linda's complaint and found in her favour. They quickly rescinded this and reinvestigated, ignoring all the damning facts."
Linda claims she was told she would attend training in Stirling Royal Infirmary on her three days off and would not be paid overtime.
This would mean working 10 days in a row including an 'on call' weekend. She also claimed she was expected to work or be on standby for a 116 hours.
The friend said: "Linda was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
"Despite occupational health, Linda's psychologist and her GP telling management to leave her alone she continued to be harassed. "This included two phone calls to her home by another senior manager in which she was told, 'Do what you are told'."
Linda retired from the service last year and was refused a pension. She has started a business as a hypnotherapist and is doing well.
Last year, SAS officials were slammed in a damning report for a litany of failings - including staff safety concerns.
An SAS spokesman said: "There is an ongoing legal process and until it is concluded we are unable to discuss the matter."
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