Ambulance workers across Yorkshire to vote today on potential strike action
We've been speaking to an anonymous worker from Yorkshire Ambulance Service on why many staff members feel industrial action is necessary
Ambulance workers across Yorkshire will vote today whether to go on strike or not before Christmas.
It's as pressure's mounting on the NHS as we head into winter.
This worker - who we're keeping anonymous - says staff have been left with no choice:
"If you look at demand levels now, it's as busy at this point as it is in winter.
"I think every day of the week is our busiest time at this stage.
"We could take action any point, and it'd be just as busy, so there's never a great time with this.
"Staff do this job because they love it.
"We love helping people, and at the moment it doesn't feel like we can do that properly.
"With the staffing levels we've got right now, it's just unmanageable.
"It's very easy to look at this and think that we want more money.
"The wage isn't attractive, and we have staff right now who are struggling to put food on the table.
"Also, if we can make the wage more attractive in the first place, then we'll have more staff, which will ultimately allow us to respond quicker."
Deanne Furguson is the regional organiser for the GMB union.
She says a pay rise would help a lot:
"It'd allow staff to get the mortgages they need, pay off energy bills and buy food at the end of the week to feed their families.
"Some workers are even having to take out pay day loans. So, you can imagine, when staff are delivering the service that they are for our communities, they don't need to be worrying about how they're going to feed their families.
"There's a huge issue with retention of staff within the NHS because of underpayment and low pay.
"On the other side of this, patients are having longer waiting times too."
Nick Smith, Executive Director of Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said:
"We recognise that staff have the right to voice their concerns in this way, and we are working closely with our trade unions to monitor the situation closely to ensure we continue to provide safe and responsive care for our patients.”