AN AMBULANCEMAN has been sacked after he was accused of alleged sexual harassment against a female colleague.

The paramedic, who was based at Blackburn Ambulance Station, is appealing against the decision.

He was dismissed after the female colleague, who works in the control room at Lancashire Ambulance Trust's headquarters at Broughton and who lives in East Lancashire, lodged a complaint after an alleged incident at an ambulance station.

An inquiry was launched and the paramedic was initially suspended, but ambulance trust chiefs took the decision to sack him last week.

Peter Cooney, personnel director for Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "We investigated a serious allegation which fell within the Sexual Harassment at Work guidelines.

"It did not involve any aspect of patient care and the matter is subject to further internal procedures.

"Obviously this is a sensitive issue and as far as we know it is not a criminal matter."

The incident is alleged to have happened at the beginning of December.

An independent panel of the Lancashire Ambulance Trust's non-executive directors will hear the internal appeal.

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