Crew would not get in back of ambulance with paramedic after she was 'outed' as lesbian by colleague
A former paramedic said her colleagues would not get in the back of an ambulance with her after her sexuality was 'outed'. Jackie Bell, who now works as 111 Head of Service at the North West Ambulance Service, said a male colleague previously told fellow workers that she was a lesbian, despite trying to keep her relationship with another female colleague a secret.
Jackie was working as a paramedic at the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS), when it happened. She had given up a career as a physiotherapist at Leeds General Infirmary to do the job.
Despite not initially realising she was gay, she went on to meet a female colleague and they embarked on a relationship which, for a time, they wanted to keep 'under wraps'.
However, a male colleague later 'outed' the pair. Jackie said the experience was 'really difficult' and has left 'some damage'.
