AMBULANCE bosses have been accused of piling further pressure on "exhausted" staff by implementing changes to working conditions.

Trade union Unison has condemned the East of England Ambulance Service for announcing changes to lunch breaks.

It claims emergency crews are regularly working shifts of 14 or 15 hours, with staff surveys showing enforced overtime as a major cause of stress.

Fraer Stevenson, Unsion branch secretary, said: "For ten months the trust has promised to take steps to reduce enforced overtime for ambulance crews.

"This is a huge risk for patient safety and staff welfare. Staff are exhausted and working under enormous pressure.

"However, they have sent an email to all staff announcing that meal breaks would be reduced and existing measures to reduce late finishes would cease."

The union claims trust chief executive Robert Morton described the changes as "controversial" and "unpalatable" in an email.

A recent NHS staff survey for the ambulance service identified overtime as a main cause of stress for 1,541 staff.

Miss Stevenson added: "These proposals are going to make the situation worse. Committed, experienced staff are voting with their feet and walking away."

An ambulance service spokesman said: "As part of our plans, we’ve actioned measures aimed at improving services to patients and relieving some pressure on staff.

“Not unlike all ambulance services across England, the trust recognises the impact shift overruns have on our staff and put in place measures to tackle this.

"These measures, coupled with the significant rise in demand for health services and its consequences such as ambulance time at hospitals, have unfortunately not reduced shift overruns, whilst decreasing our ability to respond to patients who are waiting in the community for help. "