FRUSTRATED paramedics have called for the chief executive of the ambulance trust serving Dorset to quit in an open letter which says patients are being put at risk.

Members of trade union GMB have signed the letter, which says the South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) is "failing to address major issues".

Earlier this month, the Daily Echo reported that Kathryn Richmond, who was 20, died after waiting an hour and 25 minutes for an ambulance because of a catalogue of failings at the St Leonards hub.

Kathryn, of Broadstone, suffered a ruptured spleen. She lay struggling for breath as six of the 13 ambulances for East Dorset were off the road for meal breaks.

A surgeon later told an inquest into her death she would likely have survived had she been treated earlier.

Paramedics represented by the union yesterday urged boss Ken Wenman to resign.

In their letter, they apologise to members of the communities they serve, writing: "Behind the professional facade we portray to the public, we are struggling to maintain a crumbling service deliberately underfunded by the government and made worse when those over-pressured resources and stressed staff are badly managed locally."

They also write: "We’re sorry for not getting to you or your loved ones quick enough because there are just not enough of us or we are called out to answer non-emergency calls.

"We’re sorry for the patient and family members that have been left on the floor for hours as a consequence of not getting to you on time.

"We’re sorry when you remain in the ambulance or in the hospital corridor for hours when we are stacked at A&E’s because we can’t complete our hand over.

"We’re sorry that our employer is so poor in managing their resources that they are potentially putting your family at risk."

Some of those who have signed the letter say they are suffering with PTSD. Others say they fear they will "not reach retirement age as a result of physical or psychological injury."

Gary Palmer, GMB's regional NHS campaign organiser, said: "We felt this recent letter on behalf of a group of GMB members particularly summons up the general despair and frustration many staff currently feel from working within a service and role they love.

"The trust is failing to address major issues and the toll from not doing so is having an enormous effect upon increasing numbers of staff.

"Staff are considering whether they wish to remain within this particular ambulance service or not.

"Mr Wenman has clearly not only lost touch or interest with his employees and the service, but has now also lost their respect as well.

"It’s time for the chief executive to stand down and for any replacement to be clear on wanting to do more to protect and support the trust’s most valuable resource, its own staff."

Mr Wenman said the trust's staff are its "most valuable asset", adding that he was "disappointed" the letter had been sent to the media rather than directly to the trust.

"We would urge the GMB to re-engage and talk to us directly," he said.

THE Daily Echo has reported a series of cases where patients were faced with long delays when in need of care.

On boxing day 2016, Leonard Smith was found dead at his home after waiting more than seven hours for an ambulance.

Staff at SWAST were hit with high demand for emergency vehicles over the Christmas period and staff sickness.

Businessman Guy Hedger, who sustained a shotgun injury to the chest at his home in St Ives on April 30, waited more than 50 minutes for an ambulance as he was not categorised as a top priority patient.

Mr Hedger died in hospital.

In August last year, a 91-year-old great grandad from Southbourne was forced to make his own way to hospital when an ambulance failed to turn up - more than an hour after collapsing with severe chest pains and vomiting.

In April, a 70-year-old broke her collarbone and lay waiting more than six hours for an ambulance in Bournemouth.

Last December, footballer Elliot Smith lay in a puddle with an agonising double leg break for three-and-a-half hours.