AMBULANCE chiefs are proposing to screen the fitness of potential recruits to the emergency service in a bid to stop the high rate of early retirement.

The move by bosses at the Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has been prompted by the increasing number of staff retiring prematurely.

Trust bosses in the county have spearheaded a national research project involving 25 other ambulance services in the UK.

It proposes a fitness screening test for people wanting to join the accident and emergency service in the county.

Peter Cooney, the trust's director of human resources, said: "All ambulance services are concerned at the high rate of premature retirement among their staff due to ill health.

"The proposed tests are aimed at ensuring that, on appointment, recruits are physically up to the demanding work expected of them." The service is planning to introduce the Fit for Work initiative later this year as a pilot scheme.

Recent research by the Pensions Agency showed that up to 75 per cent of ambulance staff retire on health grounds.

Scientific studies show that physically fit people may be more resistant to illness and musculo-skeletal injury.

And fitter people are less likely to be absent and have a greater tolerance for shift work.

The research also revealed that muscular injuries occur more frequently when fatigue is present.

A health screening programme exists for current staff on a voluntary basis.

Union chief Ian Jones, from the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel, said: "Generally we support this move because we don't want our members being injured and or being hurt because somebody else has been employed who is not fit to do the job.

"It is a fairly demanding job both mentally and physically."

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