East of England Ambulance Service reveals 'extensive planning' to keep people safe during strikes
Ambulance crews across the East are to join industrial action for the first time on Monday
Last updated 3rd Mar 2023
Managers at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) have revealed they have 'extensive' plans in place to keep people safe during two days of strike action next week.
Staff who are members of the GMB are taking part in action on Monday (March 6).
Members of the UNISON union will be staging walkouts in the East of England for the first time on March 8 in a dispute over pay.
UNISON and GMB members will still attend urgent life threatening 'category 1' calls from the picket lines, as well as other incidents where there is thought to be a risk to life.
However, the service is warning there will be fewer ambulances avaialble and fewer staff in the control room.
Members of the public are being urged to only dial 999 in an absolute emergency and to seek support though 111, GPs or pharmacies if the problem is not urgent.
Tom Abell, Chief Executive at EEAST, said: “We understand the strength of feeling of our people who are taking industrial action around the national issue of pay and we have been working hard to make the service as safe as possible during the days of industrial action.
“There has been lots of learning shared across ambulance services from previous days of industrial action which has helped shape our plans.
“We have been working closely with our unions to continue to do all we can to keep patients safe.
"However, we will have fewer ambulances out on the roads and fewer staff in our control rooms, and we would urge people to seek alternatives to calling 999 if possible, such as 111, GPs and pharmacies.
“If it is serious medical emergency, please do not hesitate to call 999.”
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Peter Passingham said:
“Ambulance staff are taking action with a heavy heart, but years of falling pay and underfunding from national government have left us with no choice.
“We're glad that we could work with EEAST to ensure that staff can continue to provide life-saving help to the public during industrial action.
"If the government took the same constructive approach to dialogue with trade unions as EEAST, it’s unlikely we would be forced to take industrial action.”