Military to be called in during East Midlands Ambulance strike
Workers are walking out on Monday
East Midlands Ambulance says the military will be called in on Monday to help maintain services as workers head out on strikes once again.
The service says unlike on previous strike days, when the latest round round of industrial action took place last week, demand remained high.
In response, military personnel will provide support responding to non-emergency patients during strike action, in an attempt to protect the limited number of ambulances available to attend to the most seriously ill people in the region.
They're also urging people to only call 999 on Monday if it's a life-threatening emergency,
Ben Holdaway, Director of Operations at EMAS said:
“We expect the industrial action period next week to be very challenging, and the implementation of military support has always been part of the NHS plans in case of increased and sustained pressure.
“We are expecting up to 20 military colleagues to be available to us. They will not be used to respond to emergency 999 calls. Their role will be to drive vehicles in addition to the safe moving and handling of lower acuity patients and essential equipment. This will enable our emergency crews to focus on responding to life-threatening and very serious 999 calls.
“As we head towards the weekend, the NHS remains open and people are asked not to store up their health conditions or soldier on if they become unwell or injured – seek early advice from your local pharmacist, NHS111 Online, via your GP or Urgent Treatment Centre; and if you have a long-term condition, ensure you continue to take your routine medication as advised by your GP.
“While we continue to fully respect the right of NHS staff to take lawful and peaceful action, as an ambulance service, the most important thing for us is that we are able to provide emergency care to our patients when they need it.
“It is important that the public use services wisely and make their own way to a treatment centre or hospital if safe to do so; this allows us to send our ambulances with life-saving equipment and clinicians on board to people who really need them.”
The government has previously said whilst they sympathise with health worker, the pay rise demands being made by unions are simply unaffordable.