Thousands of ambulance staff across the West Midlands on strike
Staff are demanding better pay and more resources.
Last updated 21st Dec 2022
Around 1,000 GMB and Unite union members at West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) are walking out today in protest to a national pay dispute with the government.
Members of Unite have indicated that they will undertake strike action from 06:00 – 17:59. GMB have indicated that they will undertake strike action from 00:01 – 23:59.
People across the West Midlands are being assured that the ambulance service will continue to attend incidents where there is a threat to life.
Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director at WMAS, Nathan Hudson, said: “We have had productive discussions with our staffside colleagues to agree that ambulances will respond to the most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests and where a crew request immediate back up at the scene of a case. As well as other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.
“In addition, staff in our non-emergency patient transport service will continue to convey vulnerable groups such as patients undertaking renal dialysis, cancer treatments, palliative care, emergency scans within the strike period timeframe.
“Only call 999 if critically unwell or there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate.
“If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk), your local GP or pharmacy."
Unite leader Sharon Graham will join Coventry's striking ambulance workers at their picket line.
She said: "The Government has had months to intervene and end this dispute. They chose not to. It’s Health Secretary Steven Barclay who is holding the country to ransom, not the unions.
"He will have to carry the can if patients suffer. The shocking statistics from West Midlands Ambulance Trust tell the real story.
"Where were the government’s ‘well-rehearsed contingency plans’ when people were dying in the West Midlands because the crisis in the ambulance service meant an ambulance couldn’t get to them on time?"
The government has refused to negotiate on requests for a pay rise, and a one-off payment to staff had been put forward but was rejected by Downing Street.
Rishi Sunak has defended the decision, saying the government was acting fairly and reasonably. He said: “The government is doing everything it can to be responsible and put in place contingency measures to support people, but ultimately I will continue to urge the unions to call off the strike because that’s what is causing disruption to people’s lives, that is what is having an impact on their health.”