Thousands of East Midlands ambulance workers strike for second time
A second strike was originally called off over Christmas
Thousands of ambulance workers across the East Midlands are back out on strike today, for the second time in the past few weeks.
They'll join over 10,000 GMB Union ambulance workers at trusts across England Wales, as they return to picket lines to continue striking over pay and staffing levels.
Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff from ambulance services will walk out, while picket lines will be staged in Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said:
"Ambulance workers across England and Wales will go on strike for the second time today.
“GMB cancelled a planned strike over the Christmas period to say thank you to the public for their incredible support.
“It also allowed time for the Government to talk to us about pay, but Ministers have dithered and postured, wasting valuable time.
"To end this dispute, GMB needs a concrete offer to help resolve the NHS’s crushing recruitment and retention crisis.
"The public expects the Government to treat this dispute seriously – it's time they got on with it.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“Today’s ambulance strike is an unwelcome return to unnecessary disruption and comes at a time when the NHS is already under huge pressure from Covid and flu.
“While we have contingency plans in place, including support from the military, community first responders and extra call handlers, to mitigate risks to patient safety, there will inevitably be some disruption for patients with fewer ambulances on the road.
“Patients should continue to call 999 for life-saving care and use NHS 111 online services for urgent health advice.”