Merseyside Ambulance workers back on strike
The GMB Union members taking part in the industrial action
Merseyside Ambulance workers will join thousands on strike across the UK today.
It’s another step in their long-running dispute over pay and staffing issues.
The GMB Union members taking part in the industrial action also includes paramedics, emergency call handlers and emergency care practitioners.
The UK faces a further wave of strikes after unions began a series of actions in December, including the largest NHS strike in history and the biggest walkout of ambulance staff in 30 years.
Dave Robb has been a paramedic around Cheshire and Merseyside for over 30 years. He told us the strikes are not just about current staff but also the future of the NHS.
He said: “Maybe not in my time at 65, but in my children's time and grandchildren's time I want an NHS to be there for them as it was for me and my family.
“So, it is about that, it's absolutely upmost in the rational of what we are doing, is to make the people of Great Britain aware of whats going on behind the scenes.”
The government has said that whilst they sympathise with health workers, the pay demands being made by unions is unaffordable
Members of the Unite union at the North West Ambulance Service are also set to walk out on Wednesday 22nd February.
It has also been announced that nurses will be going on strike again at the start of next month (1st and 2nd March).
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "Failure to provide cover during strike action for key services like cancer care is a significant escalation from the Royal College of Nursing that will risk patient safety.
"We are working closely with NHS England on contingency plans, but this action will inevitably cause further disruption for patients.”
Dave Robb told us the government needs to do more.
He said: “Could the health Secretary Steve Barclay stop hiding behind smoke screens and step forward, along with Rishi Sunak, start sitting down instead of batting things around.
Then blaming any members of the NHS for taking strike saying that will have a significant impact on patient's health and wellbeing. When we all know, and the public know, that the significant impact is there every single day because of the lack of funding.”