Employees at a Merseyside ambulance services group have been left without pay on time after the company apologised for the problems. Spark Medical, based in Bromborough, Wirral, provides independent ambulance services and event medical cover across the UK. It employs 97 people directly, alongside many subcontractors, and operates up to 50 medical vehicles a day.
Payroll issues since rescue deal
In February of this year, a deal was completed that saw Integras Group rescue the operations of Spark Medical and another supplier, Medi 4 Ambulance Services, saving more than 375 jobs. But employees told the ECHO that ever since that deal, there have been problems with pay being processed on time.
On Wednesday of this week, Spark Medical employees received an email from the company, stating that salaries could not be processed in time for the expected payday. The company said this was "due to several delayed debtors and an unforeseen delay in an inter-group transaction to support this situation and allow payroll activities."
Apology and compensation promise
An email, seen by the ECHO, stated: "We have tried relentlessly to remedy this to make todays commitment to you. I fully appreciate the impact this news may have on you and your families, and we recognise the concern, frustration, and inconvenience this will cause." In the email, the company said every employee would receive an additional £100 by means of an apology when payment did come through, which it confirmed would be at 9am today (Friday).
But this morning employees received another email from bosses at Spark Medical, after some did not in fact receive their pay by 9am. This email stated: "Pay is currently being reprocessed and uploaded as we speak. The first batch has now been approved and sent for release. Please allow some time to reach your bank account. Once again the group would like to sincerely apologise for the delay and the issues has caused. We understand the impact this may have had and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the situation."
Impact on staff
One employee told the ECHO: "People haven't been paid on time for the last six months, there have been a number of late payments, they have used all different excuses like issues with payroll, they refuse to put anything in writing. There are a lot of people affected, some people are missing mortgage payments." The ECHO has approached Spark Medical for a response.
