Long delays expected as ambulance staff strike over pay
Ambulance services in Shropshire are this morning being affected by a second day of national strike action.
The walk-out is taking place between 7am and 11am this morning as part of a national dispute with the Government over pay. Ambulance workers join nurses, midwives and other health workers.
A ballot of Unison, Unite and GMB members voted to take industrial action as a result of the government’s decision to not apply a 1% pay award in full to all NHS staff in accordance with the national public sector pay review body’s recommendations.
In addition to the four hours of strike action, members of Unison and GMB will also take action short of a strike for the rest of the week. Members of Unite will work to rule until January 18. This additional action will reduce the number of ambulances and rapid response vehicles available to respond to 999 emergencies across the West Midlands. This will mean slower responses during this time.
The Trust has agreed with local unions measures to preserve a service to the patients most in need but is appealing to the public not to call 999 unless it is absolutely necessary. If you call 999 during the strike, unless it is genuinely life-threatening, you could put the lives of those in greatest need at risk.
Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Gough said: “There will be significant delays, people may have to wait up to four hours or there may not be an ambulance response at all for the minor and non-life-threatening calls that we receive. For example, people who dial 999 and are unsure of what the problem is, people who dial 999 with a minor fracture such as a broken wrist or a sprain, non-severe blood loss, abdominal pain or generally feeling unwell. These are the types of 999 calls that may not receive a response immediately or at all.”
