Health Secretary Steve Barclay said people should ‘use their common sense’ amid mass walk outs by ambulance staff today.
‘In most parts of the country the ambulance service is well away from meeting its targets for responses to those kind of category 2 cases – so not absolutely urgently, life threatening, but still very important urgent and critical cases.He said ‘we cannot afford to drift into a winter of industrial action’ as he urged the Government and unions to reach an agreement.in less than a week, with many of them taking to picket lines to express their concern over pay, staffing levels and patient safety.
Downing Street later declined to set out what ‘risky’ activities might include, with the prime minister’s official spokesman telling reporters: ‘The public, as we saw through Covid, can be trusted to use their common sense.’during the strike but will not drive ambulances on blue lights for the most serious calls.
Former British Army head Lord Richard Dannatt yesterday questioned the decision to call in the military – many of who will be young privates on £21,400 a year.‘Armed forces personnel got a pay rise of 3.75 per cent,’ he told BBC News. ‘It’s quite a tall order to ask people to stand in for others who are striking for double digit pay awards. Frankly, it’s not fair.
The Royal College of Nursing wants a 19 per cent rise for nurses – the current 14 per cent retail prices index of inflation plus five per cent – although it has suggested it would accept a lower offer. Ambulance unions have not called for a specific salary increase figure. The NHS Pay Review Body has offered an average pay rise of 4.75 per cent and the government has refused to negotiate.
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