DISCIPLINARY action has been taken against a Yorkshire ambulance chief after he posted an online message branding NHS staff “lazy” and “aggressive”.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust policy and strategy director David Forster made the comments during an online discussion on the Facebook website, in which he also claimed some health workers would be unable to find jobs outside the public sector.

The organisation moved to distance itself from the controversy and said the matter has now been dealt with internally.

Mr Forster wrote: “Don’t be ashamed to take any NHS employment given your talent.

“As you know, the NHS has no shame in employing too many who are lazy, unproductive, obstinate, militant, aggressive at every turn, and couldn’t secure a job outside the bloated public sector where mediocrity is often shielded by weak and unprincipled HR policies.”

In a statement, the trust said: “These are the personal opinions of an individual and in no way reflect the sentiment of the organisation.

“We hold our dedicated and professional staff in extremely high regard and work alongside them, in partnership with our trade unions, to provide a high-quality ambulance service to the people of Yorkshire.

“Yorkshire Ambulance Service has dealt with this matter under normal trust procedures and would now like to draw a line under this for all concerned,” the trust said.