When a 999 call handler left their job to pick up the Scottish ambulance chief and his family from the airport following a holiday, the ambulance boss was fired.
Christopher Gallacher called in a ‘favour’ from a colleague and requested a pool car to collect them from Glasgow Airport after the family trip.
The duty manager then ‘specifically requested’ to be driven by a new, junior member of the team on a busy evening when some patients had been waiting ‘lengthy periods of time’.
For almost forty-five minutes, the call handler left their station to get Mr Gallacher.
An investigation found Mr Gallacher, who had worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) for 20 years, had ‘knowingly depleted’ cover, resulting in his being sacked for gross misconduct.
Mr Gallacher attempted to sue the SAS for unjust dismissal in an employment tribunal. But now, an employment court has dismissed his argument, finding that managers behaved in a “fair and reasonable” manner. The panel was informed that Mr Gallacher worked as a duty manager at Glasgow’s West Centre, one of the three Scottish SAS centres.
He was responsible for the ‘best use of resources’ in a position with a ‘high level of autonomy and leadership’.
Mr Gallacher was accused by the SAS of using their property for his “private use.”
‘It was alleged Mr Gallacher had sought to use [and used] a pool car to collect him [and his family] upon return from holiday on July 17, 2022,’ the hearing was told. He was suspended on July 19, 2022. In February 2023, an investigation was completed, recommending Mr Gallacher address allegations of using a vehicle for personal gain and asking a colleague to use it while they were on shift, which was ‘knowingly depleting cover’.
His disciplinary hearing took place in May 2023, and after it was agreed, an allegation of bringing the service into ‘disrepute’ would be added to consideration.
Despite Mr Gallacher ‘assuming’ the journey would be made in an unpaid 45-minute break, that did not happen. The hearing was told: ‘While [Mr Gallacher] had not intended his request to impact upon patient safety, it clearly had the potential to do so.’
A disciplinary officer said he had ‘abused his position’ with ‘irresponsible’ decision-making. As a result of upholding all the allegations, Mr Gallacher was sacked for gross misconduct in May 2023.
It makes me wonder where this level of entitlement comes from. Who in their right mind would believe this was acceptable? Sadly, the world is full of people like this.
What a self-entitled, jumped-up piece of garbage this man is. I can just imagine him posturing in front of his family, playing the big ‘I am’ in getting someone from work to pick him up while putting lives at risk. What was wrong with getting a taxi? But sadly, this is what happens when you give a little man a little power. This level of entitlement is astonishing. Perhaps in his mind, he believed this was a perk of the job.
Politicians are laughing and acting like this is all very hilarious, and it’s tragic that the NHS is demonstrating an increasing lack of empathy and regard for human life on a daily basis.
Pool cars have become an increasingly popular option.
A vehicle that is owned by a business and used for work-related reasons by several workers is known as a pool automobile. Usually, it’s used for brief travels like customer meetings, site inspections, or delivery.
There are certain crucial guidelines that individuals should be aware of while utilising a pool automobile. First and foremost, the pool automobile may only be used for official business.
Employees should not use the car for personal use, such as running errands or commuting to work. This is important to ensure that the car remains in good condition and is available to other employees when needed.
This man used a pool car for his own personal gain.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 