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Ambulance workers stage mass walkout – as NHS leaders say they can’t guarantee patient safety | Politics News

Thousands of ambulance staff in England and Wales are going on strike today – NHS leaders warn they cannot guarantee patient safety.

Speaking to Sky News, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the system would be “under severe pressure” due to the strike and urged Britons to use “common sense about the activities they do”.

He accused the unions of timing the strike when the NHS is already facing winter pressure due to flu, COVID and other illnesses.

The strikes come after recent crisis talks between Mr Barclay and the unions failed to resolve the pay issue.

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The Unison strike runs from midday until midnight, while the GMB action started at 12am and will also continue until midnight tonight.

The Unite strike began at midnight and will end at midday.

Mr Barclay said some decisions about what would be covered during the ambulance workers’ strikes today would be made on the day.

Asked why there was no national contingency plan in place for strike action, he told Sky News: “The difficulty in putting contingency measures in place is because of the uncertainty about exactly what is and isn’t covered and the fact that those decisions will in some cases be made on the day.”

Around 600 members of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force have been mobilized from across the country to help out during the rides, some of whom have never driven the vehicles before.

NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said: “We have reached the stage where our leaders feel it is necessary to say they cannot ensure patient safety, they cannot avoid the risks as these strikes unfold.”

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0:38 “I can’t describe how bad it is” – paramedic

Ahead of the strike action, unions called on the government to make a pay offer and suggested a deal could be reached.

While Unite’s Onay Kasab warned after the meeting that the ambulance strikes would “escalate” unless the government agreed to talks.

“Our members are absolutely determined to not only win the pay battle but to win the battle to save the NHS,” he said.

Mr Barclay said the strikes were “deeply regrettable”.

“My number one priority is to keep patients safe,” the health secretary said.

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0:35 The public will “act sensibly” during the strike

“The Government and NHS colleagues are working to protect safe staffing levels.

“However, there will be fewer ambulances on the roads due to industrial action and the NHS will prioritize those with life-threatening needs.

“My message to the public is to take extra care … and plan your activities accordingly. You may also want to check on more vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.’

He continued: “Further pay rises would mean taking money away from frontline services at a time when we are dealing with record waiting lists as a result of the pandemic.”

Writing in The Telegraph, the health secretary added: “We now know that NHS emergency plans will not cover all 999 calls. Ambulance unions have made a conscious choice to harm patients.’

Read more: Strikes every day before Christmas – which sectors are affected and why How will A&E and other NHS services be affected

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The strike action comes a day after ambulance and hospital trusts across the country announced critical incidents as a result of “prolonged” and “unprecedented” pressure on services.

Meanwhile, nurses across the country went on strike for a second day yesterday.

The head of the Royal College of Nursing, Pat Cullen, has confirmed that nurses will call post-Christmas strikes until the end of the week unless the Government reaches a deal on pay.

She warned Mr Sunak that the “clock was ticking” to start negotiations to prevent further action.

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2:56 Beats: “Critical incidents” announced.

Health Secretary Will Queens yesterday urged people to rethink contact sports and avoid running on icy roads during the ambulance strike.

All Category 1 calls (the most life-threatening, such as cardiac arrest) will be responded to during today’s strike action, while some ambulance trusts have agreed exemptions with unions for specific Category 2 incidents (serious conditions, such as stroke or chest shock pain).

This means that those who suffer trips, falls or other non-life-threatening injuries may not receive treatment.