Ambulance care employees have reacted with ‘shock and disbelief’ to the dismissal of interim director Jos Stierhout (62) after a report of sexual misconduct. In addition, Ambulance Care Groningen is heading for a ‘significant loss’ this year.
The forced departure of interim director Jos Stierhout (62) came as a big surprise among many employees of Ambulancezorg Groningen. “Our organization responded with shock and disbelief about the situation to the message from our supervisory board,” spokesperson Harry Katstra said in a written response “on behalf of the organization.”
“Border-crossing behavior is not acceptable in any organization,” Katstra writes. ‘And certainly in ours where undesirable behavior is a major point of attention. We are sorry that a colleague is involved in this case and we sympathize with the person involved.’
Gea van Dijk, chairman of the supervisory board, reports in a response that it is ‘undisputed’ that the sexual misconduct took place. “We acted in the interests of those who had to experience this.” According to Van Dijk, Stierhout has played ‘a good role’ in recent months. ‘That makes the situation even more dire.’
‘Significant loss’
Stierhout reported in his newsletter to employees in mid-November that Ambulance Care Groningen was making ‘significant losses’. “Fortunately, health insurers are willing to pay part of the high costs,” he added. “So far I have felt their (health insurers’, ed.) understanding and support,” he continued, “although they also emphasize that they are not Sinterklaas.” Stierhout also expects ‘a high loss’ for the ambulance service in 2024.
Menzis – together with Zilveren Kruis responsible for ambulance care in the province of Groningen – reports in a written response: ‘We know the financial situation of Ambulance Care Groningen and understand the fact that MSF is going through a difficult period. The organization is faced with a major staff shortage, high absenteeism due to illness, a change plan that needs to be implemented and additional investments need to be made.’
Menzis states that it is prepared to support this ‘based on a solid relationship and trust that have been built up over the years. But as health insurers we have asked the organization to make stricter choices and to give priority to attracting permanent employees.
‘No influence on patient care’
Katstra does not want to comment on the content of Stierhout’s departure. “The departure of our interim director/director is annoying in several respects,” says Katstra. ‘Under his leadership, we have taken structured, important steps in our way of working over the last six months. Although we are not there yet, we feel that we have taken a good turn. Fortunately, the situation we have found ourselves in has no influence on patient care. Our ambulance staff continue to carry out their work with their usual professionalism.’