I’m over-the-moon today to learn that hard-pressed staff of Sussex’s patient transport service have finally received their pay after an extremely worrying eight-week wait. 

I now expect them to receive their pay for September at the end of this week and to have the opportunity for all outstanding pay issues from the last six months to be cleared up. Staff and patients have simply been through enough. I will join the staff, patients and the GMB union in vigorously pursuing fairness for these drivers who have done nothing wrong and are victims of a botched contract.

Six weeks ago I gave Coperforma’s Chief Executive the opportunity to explain their position but have received no satisfactory reply, so I’m taking this as yet more evidence that they are dragging their feet and dodging the issue. I’m therefore calling for the contract to be re-assessed with a view to it being brought back in-house so that ambulance services are operated within the NHS.