Ambulance staff struggling with leave requests in the East of England
UNISON says family life is being impacted by persistent leave issues
Last updated 12th May 2026
Ambulance staff are facing challenges in attending important family events due to leave request denials, according to UNISON.
The East of England Ambulance Service Trust reportedly refused annual leave requests made up to a year in advance, affecting staff in various personal areas such as weddings and funerals.
The leave shortage has exacerbated staff burnout, with many considering leaving the service, says the union.
UNISON conducted a survey of 100 employees which revealed that nearly all frontline ambulance workers (99%) have struggled with booking leave in the past six months, while almost two in five (38%) had requests denied more than five times in the past year.
Furthermore, 83% have had requests partially approved, leading to fragmentation in planned holidays.
One ambulance worker noted that, despite booking leave 11 months in advance, one shift was refused due to "poor cover" on that day.
There are also reported refusals of leave for caring for sick relatives and school holiday requests, complicating childcare for many parents.
The union highlights that these issues have worsened over the past year following updates to a policy concerning staffing levels, yielding improvements in performance metrics but risking staff exhaustion.
UNISON emphasizes that the problem compounds existing stresses, including late finishes and long shifts.
Some remedial measures have been introduced following union pressure, like enabling easier shift swaps and reviewing leave refusals.
UNISON East of England Ambulance Service branch secretary Mark Wrigley said: "No-one goes into the ambulance service thinking it’ll be an easy ride, it’s always going to be stressful when you’re dealing with life-or-death situations. But that’s precisely why it’s so important staff are able to take a break, to spend time with family, go away with their loved ones or just generally wind down."
He added: "If the trust wants to attract staff and keep them, tinkering around the edges of this issue isn't good enough, it must work with unions to deliver a meaningful, sustainable solution."
In response, Neill Moloney, Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, stated: "We have taken decisive action to improve the experience of our staff, including increasing annual leave allowances to their highest level in recent years, helping more people take the time off they need."
He continued: "We recognise there is more to do, we meet with our unions regularly and are working closely with unions at pace to address remaining issues such as ‘stranded’ shifts, while continuing to support both our people and safe, effective services for the public."