Another 750 ambulance workers in the North East have voted to go on strike.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, 999-call handlers and other staff from the GMB union will all walk out in the region.

The walkouts could be set to take place before Christmas over an ongoing dispute over pay and staffing.

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The GMB union says the decision to strike shows just how desperate almost 750 health workers in the region are.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “Ambulance workers – like other NHS workers – are on their knees.

“Demoralised and downtrodden, they’ve faced twelve years Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, fought on the frontline of a global pandemic and now face the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. 

“No one in the NHS takes strike action lightly – today shows just how desperate they are.

“This is as much about unsafe staffing levels and patient safety as it is about pay. A third of GMB ambulance workers think delays they’ve been involved with have led to the death of a patient. 

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“Something has to change or the service as we know it will collapse.

“GMB calls on the Government to avoid a Winter of NHS strikes by negotiating a pay award that these workers deserve.”

Almost 1,500 ambulance workers in Yorkshire are also set to walk out.

It comes after Unison also announced strike action by its North East ambulance staff ahead of Christmas.

Two December strike dates have also been set by the Royal College of Nursing as nursing staff will also walk out for the first time ever.

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