More than 800 ambulance workers are considering leaving their jobs because of late finishes, according to a union poll.

1,541 staff members have been surveyed by UNISON and figures compiled by the union suggest 55 per cent of staff, 847 employees, are considering leaving their jobs due to late finishes.

1001 people surveyed also said late finishes is causing them high levels of stress and 44 per cent of staff have taken time off sick with stress after late finishes.

Individual performance management, where senior management look at a number of statistics, including how quickly staff can turn round patients before collecting more patients, has led to 43 per cent of staff considering leaving their posts.

UNISON has launched a campaign "Put back the heart", which is calling for cultural changes throughout trust and aims to make staff support a key priority in every decision.

Fraer Stevenson UNISON Branch Secretary said, "Staff are consistently providing a very high level of care to our patients, through face to face clinical care, and other vital roles, such as call takers, dispatchers, and support services staff.

"This survey highlights although there have been a number of changes in 2014/15 more needs to be done to support our staff. Staff work in very difficult circumstances and the role they undertake is incredibly challenging.

"They need to be supported in their roles, and the Ambulance Service management need to be prioritising staff welfare."

Ms Stevenson told the Watford Observer that one of the main issues identified in Hertfordshire was the changes to the "lone working" policy, where management would force staff to work on their own.

Previously, staff were able to opt out of working their own.

The union has called on the trust to implement a similar policy to the West Midlands Ambulance Service, which is run by Anthony Marsh- chief executive of the East of England Ambulance Service.

She added: "We are working with Chief Executive Anthony Marsh to bring in a number of key practical changes that will address the issues highlighted by staff in our survey, and to genuinely place staff back at the heart of our Ambulance Trust.

"A change in culture is needed to help secure the future of our organisation and ensure staff can continue to provide the excellent care to our patients. These changes need to be embraced and led by all levels of management, helping to enable and support their staff."

The survey also stated that 1 per cent of staff felt the Non Executive Directors and Trust Chair were in touch with the issues that affect them, engage with staff or include them in decisions and 97 per cent of staff felt the non Executive board and Trust Chair cared about performance and targets.

Sarah Boulton, Chairman of the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "Since I joined a year ago, we have made significant improvements in our ongoing transformation and the Board has our service to patients and better supporting our staff at the forefront of its work.

"We're also involving staff in a massive new programme to help change the culture of the organisation for the better which is something myself and the Board have made a top priority.

"This work, as well as supporting new career pathways, paramedic recruitment and other development programmes, will help us make this one of the best organisations to work for."