British Army soldiers delivering Covid-19 tests to lorry drivers on the M20 in Kent in December 2020
(Picture: PA)Armed forces personnel could drive ambulances and stand in for frontline hospital roles under emergency plans to deal with possible industrial action in the NHS, according to reports.
Officials are said to be drawing up plans to use the military as paramedics and ambulance drivers consider joining nurses on the picket line in the coming months.
It comes after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) confirmed on Friday that nurses in around half of all NHS trusts would walk out on December 15 and 20 in a dispute over pay.
Unions are also balloting ambulance drivers, paramedics, cleaners, catering staff and junior doctors.
The Government could utilise the military aid to the civil authorities protocol (Maca) to keep key services in the NHS running during major walkouts, according to The Times.
Maca was used during the Covid pandemic to help with the vaccine rollout, testing and the delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Reacting to the report on Monday, Business Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government does not have any "immediate plans" for the Army to step in to help the NHS during the winter strikes.
He said he does not think it is “correct” to say the military will be brought in, other than to note the Government “always looks at contingency plans”.
“There aren’t any immediate plans to do that,” he told Sky News.
“And actually the NHS has got some pretty well-versed planning in place for all manner of disruption.
“Of course, ideally, I’d love to see those strikes averted. I don’t think anyone wants to see strikes in our NHS. It harms everybody and is to no one’s advantage.”
A Government spokeswoman said: “We are working with the NHS on a range of options to manage disruption to health and care services during industrial action.
“Hospitals will do everything they can to ensure patients and the public are kept safe, however planned appointments may need to be cancelled and emergency care prioritised to those in need of urgent care only.”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has not made a formal request to the Ministry of Defence, the newspaper reported.
Emergency care will not be affected but the nursing strikes are likely to impact routine services such as knee and hip replacements.
The union has demanded a pay rise of five per cent above inflation, claiming the Government’s current annual pay rise of £1,400 is insufficient to shield staff from the cost of living crisis.
