Currently front line emergency ambulance staff have a retirement age of 67. Yet we do full rotating shifts which is proven to shorten your life. The job is both physically and mentally demanding involving carrying heavy equipment and patients up and down stairs, facing arduous circumstances on a daily basis. Often working outside in challenging circumstances and conditions.

Recently a close colleague  retired at 63 after a 40 year career serving the public of London. Sadly he suddenly passed away 3 weeks later, leaving a partner 4 children, 9 grandchildren and a great grandson that was born just after he passed away. He had been very fit and healthy to this point and had not yet reached the official retirement age by nearly 3 years.

Currently as legislation stands we in the ambulance service are treated the same as any other NHS employee with a retirement age of 67.

I am calling for a reduction in the retirement age for front line staff from 67 to 60 to bring us more in to line with our colleagues in our partner emergency services . I also believe that due to the way our job has changed that this problem will be self resolving as most staff no longer have long careers within ambulance services.

I want to see a change made before a colleague passes away on duty.

This is a career choice and we should enjoy a life after retirement.