Lincolnshire and Newark Ambulance staff join strike action today
Those from the East Midlands Ambulance Service have walked out in a row over pay and conditions
Last updated 11th Jan 2023
Ambulance workers from Lincolnshire and Newark will join others across the country today as they take strike action for the second time in a month.
We are warned that this one may have a bigger impact with more employees walking out and because the health service is in a worse position.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service are walking out in a row over pay and conditions.
We've been to Lincoln's picket line this morning, where we spoke to the GMB Union Regional Organiser, Colin Todd.
He told us what things have been like since the last strike:
"Not a lot has changed from the last strike to be perfectly frank. We've still got fantastic support from the public, as they're driving past tooting their horns, probably more than last time. So, nothing has changed in that.
"In terms of the situation and the dispute, once again, nothing really has changed. The Government have had plenty of opportunity to come back round the table with us, and chose to give us 45 minutes on Monday and didn't put an offer there.
"But it's not just about the pay, it's about the terms and conditions, it's about the crisis in the NHS, the lack of forward planning in the NHS and in social care."
Colin also told us that he believes the cuts in the public services in 2010 have built up to this point. He says "I think this would have been happening earlier, if it hadn't been for the pandemic."
Whilst on the line, we also spoke to Steve Clark, a paramedic who has been in the service for seven years.
He says a lot has changed over those years:
"This isn't an ambulance service specific problem, this is a health care in the UK problem. Both, in terms of emergency care, urgent care and primary care, out in the community. Every single area is under massive strain and struggling to cope with patient numbers, and I think we're at a point now where we're starting to see real negative impacts of that. In terms of our response times, in terms of waits in A&E, in terms of hospital waiting lists for procedures, for GP appointments.
"It's not because healthcare professionals don't want to see patients and don't want to be there, it's just unfortunately the demand is so great, that we're struggling to do that."
He also added that he's seen a rise in mental health presentations and more urgent and primary care complaints with people struggling to get support or appointments.
Steve reiterated that it's still a job that he enjoys, and says:
"It's one of those jobs where no two days are the same, and we go to a massive variety of incidents... We don't do this to get rich, we do this for the job and to make a difference."
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.”