Occupational Stress Risk Assessment: AACE Ambulance Trust. Phase 1 summary findings – Focus groups with control room employees

Freour, Lea; Earle, Fiona

Abstract

Key Points:

This project commissioned by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) aims to explore the sources of stress risks in the control rooms.

Phase 1 took place between Dec 2023 and March 2024. Eight focus groups were conducted across four English ambulance trusts, with a total of 29 participants.

Through these groups, key causes and consequences of stress were identified – some aligning with the HSE’s Management Standard framework, others unique and specific to the control room work environment.

National-level challenges were identified with the current NHS and health context influencing the experiences of control room employees.

Overall, findings highlight issues with: (1) Works demands and limited resources to address them; (2) Varied management support; (3) Overall negativity that can affect the work atmosphere, and culture around mental health; (4) Frequent changes in protocols with limited communication; (5) Work-life balance struggles.

Citation

Freour, L., & Earle, F. (2025). Occupational Stress Risk Assessment: AACE Ambulance Trust. Phase 1 summary findings – Focus groups with control room employees. Association of Ambulance Chief Executives

• Report Type: Project Report
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2025
• Publisher: University of Hull
• Pages: 3
• Keywords: work-related stress; mental health; management standards
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4860465