Morale at Yorkshire Ambulance Service at 'rock bottom' ahead of strike
Unite Union members are walking out over pay
We are hearing how morale at Yorkshire Ambulance Service is at rock bottom ahead of yet another walk out this afternoon.
Members of the Unite Union are striking in a row over pay with call handlers and paramedics among those taking action for up to seven hours, with action taking place between 2pm and 10pm.
Onay Kasab is from there and said: "There's also an increase in cases of mental health problems because of the stress from not only work, but low pay and having to deal with that day in and day out. There's no doubt about it. Morale in the NHS is at rock bottom and that's why our members are absolutely determined to do something about it.
"We've heard stories about people who would often not have a drink at work because it means going to the toilet and they're too busy to go to the toilet. That's not healthy in any profession.
"Morale really is at rock bottom. We've got people working ridiculously long shifts without taking breaks, unable to see families and quite often missing rent and mortagage payments. We've got members relying on foodbanks provided by hospitals."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are returning to the picket lines in targeted industrial action to place further pressure on the government to re-open pay negotiations.
“The current pay deal does not address the fundamental problems undermining the NHS. Workers have suffered real terms pay cuts for over a decade and can no longer afford to make ends meet, resulting in experienced staff leaving the NHS in droves.”
The union is calling on the government to re-open negotiations as the present deal is a further real terms pay cut for NHS workers, who are becoming more desperate due to a combination of soaring costs and low wages.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“It is disappointing some Unite members are continuing strike action – these strikes will put more pressure on the NHS and will be disruptive for patients.
“Most unions on the NHS Staff Council voted to accept our pay offer and we hope the unions who choose to remain in dispute – despite many of their members also voting to accept this offer – will recognise this as a fair outcome that carries the support of their colleagues and decide it is time to bring industrial action to an end."
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service are asking the public to only dial 999 for an ambulance where a patient is in a life-threatening or very serious condition.
It says whilst they recognise and respect individuals’ legal right to participate in industrial action, their priority remains ensuring that patient and staff safety, welfare, dignity, and respect are maintained.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service has put contingency plans in place to allow it to respond to life-threatening and very serious cases during the strike, and hopes that any disruption will be limited.
Nick Smith, Executive Director of Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said:
“It’s very important that people use our emergency service appropriately on Friday so that resources can be focused where they are needed, and particularly on very serious and life-threatening incidents.
“All of our services are likely to be disrupted, with a possibility of delays in emergency responses and telephone calls to 999 and NHS 111 being answered.
“We need the public to use our services wisely; we will be here for those who really need us, but you should only call 999 when someone is in a life-threatening or very serious condition.
“Patients waiting for an ambulance should only call back if their symptoms worsen or to cancel an ambulance if alternative transport has been arranged, so that our lines are available to take new emergency calls.”
“We also ask that people seek help and advice from alternative healthcare providers, including NHS 111 Online (111.nhs.uk), or by visiting a pharmacist.”