NHS strikes LIVE: Ambulance workers and nurses unite in biggest day of action yet
Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance staff in England will walk out today in the ongoing dispute over pay, in what could be the biggest strike in the history of the NHS.
Today sees the two groups walk out together for the first time in the ongoing wave of disputes, and NHS leaders have warned the service is facing its worst day of disruption yet.
The public has been urged to use hospitals and emergency services “wisely”, as NHS Providers – which represents trusts – warned the whole service was approaching a “crunch point”.
The Royal College of Nursing has said that it is calling out twice as many of its members than it did during earlier strikes in December and January.
NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley said they understood why so many of their staff had reached a “tipping point” as he urged ministers to sit down with unions to thrash out a settlement.
“We’re facing a crunch point. Monday’s co-ordinated walkout by nurses and ambulance workers could see the worst disruption yet for the NHS,” he said.
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Health workers will walk out today in the biggest ever NHS strike.
Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance staff in England are set to walk out today, with nurses due to strike again tomorrow.
Ambulance crews and call handlers will return to the picket lines on Friday.
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‘Double whammy of strikes’
NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley said He said 88,000 appointments had been already been cancelled as a result of the current industrial action, hitting patients hard.
He said: “We face a very real risk that tens of thousands more patients will have their care disrupted in the coming days by this double whammy of strikes, especially as they’re coming right after a weekend when we know demand for care tends to build up.”
Sir Julian said NHS leaders would do everything possible to ensure safe care and to minimise disruption for patients, and called on the public to think carefully before accessing services.
“It’s vital that in the event of an emergency, people continue to call 999,” he said.
“But given the severe disruption we’re expecting, we’re asking the public to use services wisely and to think about whether other health issues could be more appropriately dealt with via the NHS 111 website, community pharmacists or their GP.”