Tag: ambulance
Unite union ambulance strikes planned for this week called off
Union calls off ambulance strikes due today to enter pay talks with Government
AMBULANCE strikes in England due today have been called off by the Unite union.
Workers at ambulance trusts in the West Midlands, North West, South Central, South Coastal and East Midlands had planned walkouts.
Ambulance crew walkouts across England have been called off by the Unite union[/caption]
Unite paused the action yesterday afternoon to enter pay talks with the Government after receiving “further assurances”.
But the union’s operations chief Gail Cartmail warned: “If the meeting doesn’t meet assurances from the Government, action will resume.”
It would have been the first time members in South Central and South Coastal had taken action.
Unite also called off strikes in Wales today as pay talks continue with the Welsh Government.
Members in Yorkshire, who are also planning to strike for the first time, were due to take industrial action on Wednesday.
Health secretary Steve Barclay said: “Strikes are in nobody’s best interests and only cause further disruption for patients, despite contingency measures in place.
“It is time unions engaged constructively with the pay review body process for 2023/24 and cancelled strikes so we can move forward and continue tackling the Covid backlog.
“I’ve been clear throughout that I remain keen to keep talking to unions about what is fair and affordable for the coming financial year, as well as wider concerns around conditions and workload so we can make the NHS a better place to work.”
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Prince William makes surprise visit to ambulance station who are set to strike
PRINCE William made a surprise private visit to an ambulance station – days after it emerged its staff were to strike.
The ex-air ambulance pilot chatted and joked with medics on Friday.
Service Delivery Manager Kerry Gaskin gave him a cupcake and posted a pic online.
She said: “Prince William arrived at Ipswich Ambulance Station to show his support.”
It came as almost 1,000 ambulance workers in the east of England are to strike for the first time.
A source said of William, who was in the East Anglian Air Ambulance from 2015 to 2017: “The visit was to show support for ambulance staff.
“It was not political. They did not discuss strikes.”
Prince William revealed in December 2021 how he suffered an emotional crisis while working as an air ambulance pilot.
He said that one call-out to a young boy who had been in a car accident left his traumatised.
William said: “I wasn’t in tears but inside I felt something had changed. I felt a reals sort of tension inside me.
“You have a reluctance to talk about it because you don’t want to burden other people. It really hit me weeks later.”
Full list of ambulance trusts striking today – and what to do if you need to dial 999
AMBULANCE workers across the UK are once again striking today in a row over pay.
Brits have been warned to only call 999 in “life-threatening” circumstances.
Ambulance workers across the UK are once again striking today in a row over pay[/caption]
Brits face a “postcode lottery” of care across the country with tens of thousands of staff returning to picket lines.
Up to 600 Armed Forces personnel were last night ready to step in to ease the chaos as talks over pay and conditions were gridlocked.
Emergency cover will still be provided as per trade union law.
Ambulance workers represented by the GMB union will strike tomorrow.
Those in the North West, North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland will take to the pickets.
Meanwhile, emergency staff in the Unite union have announced ten days of action.
Strikes will begin tomorrow – with action set to hit again on February 16, 17, 20, 22 and 24. Staff will then join the pickets on March 6 and March 20.
The action will include paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers.
GMB represented staff from the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales will strike tomorrow.
Need an ambulance?
In the event of an emergency you should call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department, however strike action might mean you are delayed or are unable to get the usual level of care you might need.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay today urged Brits to ‘use their common sense’ when it comes to calling out emergency services.
- Have you been affected by the ambulance strikes? Get in touch – health@thesun.co.uk
Guidance from the NHS states patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, and there is risk to life.
Ambulances will still be dispatched where clinically appropriate.
Category 1 calls are for the most life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest.
Category 2 incidents, cover conditions such as strokes or chest pain.
Category 3 calls include people who have severe abdominal pain, have suffered a fall, or patients who can be treated in their own homes.
This group is unlikely to be sent an ambulance during strike action, with patient transport services prioritising those with cancer and palliative care appointments.
Sir Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England, earlier said: “We’ve been working very closely with the unions to ensure that emergency services for life-threatening conditions are maintained, and that will include stroke and heart attacks.
“There are increased clinicians in call centres to ensure that the right response goes out to the right incident.”
He added that strokes fall into category 2 cases, and said clinicians would determine what sort of response was needed.
He said people should dial 999 “as usual” if they have a life-threatening condition.
The NHS said that it will be using the military to transfer patients with less urgent conditions to and from hospital.
St John Ambulance and Community First responders will also be used so that patients don’t miss out on care.
Guidance also states that the NHS will use taxis to transport less critically ill people to and from hospital where clinically appropriate.
Strong clinical triage will also be in place today across call centres, the NHS said.
Emergency staff represented by the Unite union have announced ten days of action[/caption]