Ambulance services across the North East and Yorkshire have issued warnings ahead of tomorrow's strikes (Wednesday 11), advising individuals to call 999 only for life-threatening conditions and injury. 

This comes only a day after UNISON, one of the ambulance unions, said that the Government were "yet to commit to resolving disputes."

Nine trusts across the country are set to see strike action tomorrow, including crews from the North East Ambulance Service and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service. These walkouts are the latest in the bitter, months-long disagreement between healthcare workers and health NHS bosses over pay, pensions, and conditions. 

Ambulance services across the region have acknowledged that tomorrow's strikes will be more challenging than the first day of industrial action, as unions are calling out a greater number of staff. 

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Two unions have voted for strike action. All members of GMB will strike for 24 hours tomorrow, whereas Unison members will stage two twelve-hour strikes; with patient transport and support services striking from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm, and control room and emergency care striking noon to midnight. 

Chief operating officer at NEAS, Stephen Segasby said: “The first strike was an incredibly challenging day for our service.  We had a significant number of our teams unavailable due to the industrial action. This time the unions are calling out more of our staff so we expect there to be greater disruption to our services.

“The public really supported us with fewer 999 calls last time, which helped us to prioritise our resources to those most in need. But with fewer people available to respond, we understandably want to warn and inform people once again on how best to use our service and what to expect from us during the period of action.”

UNISON's Head of Health, Sara Gorton, said: “Ambulance workers will reluctantly walk out again on Wednesday. But they’ll be hoping against hope the government can come up with the goods to get the NHS back on track.

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“The NHS can’t deliver quality care for patients until it has the necessary staff. Only with proper investment in the workforce can the health service be turned around, public confidence restored and patient waits reduced.

“The health secretary’s tone has changed. That shift needs to be matched with a firm commitment from the Treasury to fund a wage boost now.

“Ministers know unless they come up with some hard cash for a pay boost for what’s left of the current financial year, there can be no resolution to the dispute. And there must be talks soon to agree on the increase health workers are due from April."

 

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Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“Today’s ambulance strike is an unwelcome return to unnecessary disruption and comes at a time when the NHS is already under huge pressure from Covid and flu.

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“While we have contingency plans in place, including support from the military, community first responders and extra call handlers, to mitigate risks to patient safety, there will inevitably be some disruption for patients with fewer ambulances on the road.

“Patients should continue to call 999 for life-saving care and use NHS 111 online services for urgent health advice.”

A number of strikes are expected in the healthcare sector in the coming month: ambulance workers belonging to UNISON and the GMB are on strike this Wednesday (11 January). UNISON ambulance members will also walk out on Monday 23 January. RCN strikes are planned for 18 and 19 January. UNISON members at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are due out on strike on 17 January.