- Victoria Parker avoided helping an elderly lady who had suffered a fall in Essex
- Five former colleagues accused her of intimidating and bullying them
- She was suspended by East of England Ambulance Service and has since resigned
- Panel found her guilty of misconduct and dishonesty and banned her for five years
By Rob Preece
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A bullying paramedic who let down one of the tyres on her ambulance to dodge an emergency call-out has been struck off.
Victoria Parker admitted she had been a ‘stupid a**e’ for sticking a pen into the tyre to let out air so she could finish her shift on time.
She was guilty of misconduct and dishonesty by avoiding the call to help an elderly lady who had suffered a fall, a Health Professions Council panel ruled.
Accusation: Victoria Parker let out air from an ambulance tyre to avoid attending an emergency call-out, a hearing was told
Parker, who was a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust, was adjudged to have put patients at risk by deliberately putting the ambulance out of service.
Parker, who has since quit the service and moved to Australia, was also found to have bullied and intimidated junior colleagues.
She was banned from practising for at least five years.
Panel chairman Clare Reggiori said: ‘The registrant’s actions on more than one occasion of causing an otherwise sound ambulance to be taken off the road for entirely selfish reasons had the potential to put patients at risk.
‘There was very little evidence that the registrant had shown insight into the possible impact of her conduct on patients who might have suffered as a consequence of the ambulances being off the road.’
Parker, who did not attend the hearing at Whitefield House in London, admitted letting a tyre down 30 minutes before the end of her shift on May 19, 2009, to avoid treating the elderly woman in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex.
Allegation: Parker used a pen to deflate the nearside front tyre of the ambulance, the Health Professions Council heard
During the trust’s internal investigation, she admitted: ‘I untwiddled the valve cap and with my pen I let a little air out of the tyre.
‘I told control we had a slow flat. I didn’t tell anyone about this.
‘I am a stupid a**e.’
Parker had also confessed to repeating the trick on March 10, 2010, during an internal assessment day, but the panel said it could not be sure this was true after hearing ‘vague’ witness evidence.
Parker was responsible for supervising student paramedics at Rayleigh Ambulance Station.
Parker claimed to have got on with paramedics Clair Flynn, Gail Newman, and Samantha Watson, but they gave evidence contradicting this.
They described a ‘clear pattern of sustained intimidation and bullying’ during a deteriorating relationship with Parker.
Ms Reggiori said: ‘The registrant’s actions were serious, deliberate, wilful and reckless. As found by the panel, they were also dishonest.
‘They also involved student paramedics for whom the registrant was responsible while they were in her charge.
No-show: Parker, who has moved to Australia, did not attend the hearing at Whitefield House in London
‘She was a person to whom they should be able to look to for guidance on proper professional standards and behaviour.
‘Her conduct in bullying her colleagues demonstrated, in the panel’s view, a deep-seated attitudinal problem about which the registrant appeared to have virtually no insight.
‘We saw at first hand the very profound effect which her conduct still has on those of her colleagues who gave evidence at this hearing.’
Parker has shown little remorse for her actions, the panel ruled.
It also raised concerns about the training of student paramedics at the trust, and ordered for a copy of the ruling to be sent to the chief executive.
An allegation that Parker instructed a student paramedic to falsify paperwork following the tyre incident was not proven, the panel found.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Good-ger workout Lauren? - The Sun
The brunette, 25, is determined to keep up her pre-Marbs fitness regime ahead of another planned holiday to Ibiza.
Lauren tweeted yesterday: "Right on way 2 the Gym got jog around the field then pumping it hard in the gym need get all this alcohol out my body! Not long to #ibiza x."
The curvy brunette, 25, looked stunning in her bikini during the cast's recent trip to Marbs.
The Only Way Is Essex gang were in the Spanish resort to film a one-off special.
The week before filming Lauren had joined co-star Frankie Essex, 24, at No1 Bootcamp in Marbella.
And for months before that Lauren had been on the Cambridge Diet in a bid to slim down for the getaway.
Lauren tweeted today: “Morninggg.. Wow my legs are in bits .. No rest for the wicked! The sun is shining so everyone wake up 2day with a smile.”(sic)
And last night she revealed: “Good night everyone up early as I've got boxing and running.. Just got back from marbs yesterday this dedication my body aching from 2day!!x(sic)
The Only Way Is Marbs airs tonight on ITV2 at 10.00pm.
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
Tesco Bank signs up charity donations on ATMs at Tesco stores - easier.com
Tesco Bank announces from Thursday 14 June that Tesco customers can donate to any of its chosen charities at ATMs located at more than 2,200 stores throughout the UK.
This is being done as part of an ATM partnership with LINK to support the Government's ‘Giving' initiative to encourage new and innovative ways to raise funds for charity.
The scheme offers a new way to donate, allowing Tesco customers to give up to £300 in one ATM transaction from their own bank account to one of seven charities, all of whom are partnering Tesco Bank in this initiative.
Tesco Bank's existing community programme focuses on the development of children and young people and for that reason it has chosen five national and international charities that share these aims - Action for Children, Barnardo's, Teenage Cancer Trust, Together for Short Lives and Save the Children. Tesco's Charity of the Year, Cancer Research UK is also included, as well as the Disasters Emergency Committee which all LINK partners have agreed to offer as a donation option on their ATMs.
Claire Rowney, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Cancer Research UK said: "We're always keen to find new ways to make it quicker and simpler for our supporters to donate so we're delighted to be included in Tesco Bank's new initiative. The donations made will mean our scientists can focus on more research to find out how we can get cancer diagnosed earlier and help more people to survive cancer in the future."
Andrew Harris, Director of Fundraising at Action for Children said: "Action for Children are absolutely thrilled to be one of Tesco Bank's chosen charities. The funds raised through this initiative will enable us to reach some of the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people across the UK."
Tesco Bank Chief Executive, Benny Higgins added: "Tesco has a proud record of fundraising for worthy causes and for supporting the communities in which we operate, so I am delighted that ATMs at Tesco stores are taking part in this fantastic initiative. With over 2,200 of our stores with ATMs, this gives Tesco customers a convenient and safe way to donate to charity."
Tesco Bank, along with RBS and NatWest, are the first UK banks to offer charitable giving via LINK ATM machines to any customers as long as their card issuer has implemented charity giving on their issuing systems.
This initiative will raise money for charity in addition to Tesco Bank's existing ATM donation scheme. Tesco Bank already donates money to the Tesco Charity of the Year, Cancer Research UK, each time a customer uses an ATM at Tesco stores. Since June 2008, through this initiative Tesco Bank has donated over £250,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, Muscular Dystrophy, CLIC Sargent and the Alzheimer's Society.
For more information on Tesco Bank's community programme and its products and services, visit tescobank.com.
Source: www.easier.com
Brown Caps ground Eagles - SkySports
Surrey got their Friends Life t20 campaign off to a flying start with a 17-run victory over Essex at The Oval.
The hosts looked to be under-par with the bat as they posted a total of 128-8, but defended that total, despite the visitors starting their chase with a 44-run opening partnership between Mark Pettini and Ravi Bopara in just six overs.
However, when Pettini edged Jade Dernbach behind the wicket, the complexion of the game altered and by the time the score had been doubled, Essex were in deep trouble.
The visitors lost seven wickets in 10 overs, three of them to the spin of Gareth Batty, who finished with three wickets for 20 runs.
Batty trapped Owais Shah leg before wicket and two overs later gained the prized scalp of Bopara, who top-edged a reverse sweep and was caught by Matt Spriegel at backward point for 28.
James Franklin completed Batty's haul when he skied off a leading edge to mid-off as the visitors' reply fell away alarmingly.
As the panic button was pressed, a horrendous mix-up between Graham Napier and Franklin found both batsmen at the same end, with Napier departing for one as the innings disintegrated.
Wilson & Ansari shine
Surrey's significant partnership came from their sixth wicket pairing of Gary Wilson and Zafar Ansari, who added 40 after coming together with the score on 68-5 shortly after the halfway stage of the innings.
Wilson top-scored with a run-a-ball 33 which included three of the 15 boundaries recorded by the home side, whilst Jason Roy contributed 22 from 19 balls.
The pick of the Essex attack was Napier, who found line and length from the start to pose problems for the home batsmen throughout his four overs.
The burly all-rounder struck twice with successive deliveries in his opening over, taking a return catch off Rory Hamilton-Brown who skied the ball off a leading edge before Zander du Bruyn fell first ball when he lost his middle stump to a text book yorker.
Napier ended with the impressive figures of three for 16 from his four overs, while last year's leading bowler in the competition - left-arm spinner Tim Phillips - claimed 2-19.
Phillips was to later finish unbeaten on 16, one of only three Essex batsmen to reach double figures in this South Group game.
Source: www.skysports.com
Essex: Firefighters vote to strike - East Anglian Daily Times
Essex fire chief David Johnson
By Amie Keeley
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
5:22 PM
FIREFIGHTERS in Essex have voted in favour of strike action over cuts to front line services.
A total of 532 members supported the move in a ballot held by the Essex Fire Brigade Union which was announced yesterday.
The number voting against a strike was 216 out of about 1,000 members.
The news comes following a long-running dispute between the FBU and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) over job cuts and changes which the FBU says have been forced through without consultation.
The FBU claims one in five firefighters will have been cut since 2008 if planned changes go ahead while back-room staffing has risen by 7.5%.
The FBU has to give seven days’ notice of any strikes and its leaders say there is still time to resolve the dispute.
FBU brigade secretary Mick Rogers said: “No-one in the fire service ever wants to take strike action and no-one will be happy if we are forced to do so.
“It is crucial the fire authority now wakes up and joins with us in genuine moves to resolve this dispute.”
But Chief Fire Officer David Johnson said the service had already agreed to the majority of the FBU’s demands and it was time for a compromise.
“This vote only represents half of the FBU members – we have 1,300 firefighters in Essex so it does not reflect the majority of our employees.
“We agree with 95% of their demands, now we need them to compromise on the remaining 5%.
“If they do go ahead with the strike, we have effective contingency systems in place, but I’d like to think that the leadership at the FBU are decent enough not to drag their members into strike action for the wrong reasons.”
Source: www.eadt.co.uk
TOWIE's Billi Mucklow isn't over Tom Kilbey - list.co.uk
Billi Mucklow
'The Only Way is Essex' star Billi Mucklow hasn't got over her ex-boyfriend Tom Kilbey and she appears devastated that he has traded her in for a "younger model" in co-star Lydia Bright.
'The Only Way is Essex' star Billi Mucklow hasn't got over her ex-boyfriend Tom Kilbey.
The 22-year-old beauty is devastated that her 21-year-old co-star - whose sister is her best friend Cara Kilbey - has moved on from her by hooking up with Lydia Bright, and she found it particularly difficult that the pair were not a couple while recently filming a 'TOWIE' special in Marbella.
In a heart-to-heart with Tom on 'The Only Way Is MARBS', she says: "It's strange, because the last time we were out here - I was with you."
He replies: "You're right. It is weird, even sitting here with Lydia and you."
Billi then jokes that Tom has traded her in for a younger model and he says: "You two are different though aren't you. Are you alright with it though? Tell me."
Despite an awkward silence, she eventually said: "I don't know if I'd laugh at it yet but I'll get over it. It's not funny yet."
While Billi is missing Tom, 'TOWIE' beauty Chloe Sims is quite happy to sunbathe with Lauren Pope in the episode rather than look for love in the Spanish resort.
She says: "I feel like I met the love of my life in my past and I don't think anyone else is going to be able to top him. So now I'm just chilling - I've got Pops, she's the new love of my life."
'The Only Way Is MARBS' will air tonight (13.06.12) on ITV2 at 10pm.
More: Celebrity gossip, TV gossip (Celebrity gossip), Billi Mucklow, Cara Kilbey, Lydia Bright, Tom Kilbey
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typical response from todays selfish lazy and uncaring generation . one day she will be old and infirm, and need help from others. you should treat others as you expect to be treated yourself. you shoudn't need telling this.
- steve, inside the asylum, 13/6/2012 19:13
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