Almost 2,000 ambulance staff have walked out as part of the next round of industrial action among the NHS today (Tuesday November 24).
Workers in the GMB union across the North West have taken action and the union said that paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers began their 24-hour walkout just after midnight on Tuesday morning. “North West ambulance workers are angry,” said GMB representative and North West Ambulance Service paramedic Paul Turner.
“Instead of talking about pay for this year to resolve this dispute, ministers are demonising us and belittling our efforts to save lives. The NHS is collapsing, yet we have been waiting two weeks today for another meeting with ministers. The only way to solve this dispute is a proper pay offer. We are waiting.”
It is the second day of strike action for ambulance staff in the region after members of the Unison and Unite unions walked out on Monday. North West Ambulance Service said that “resources will be severely restricted” as it urged the public to only call with life-threatening emergencies.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday that he is not able to “wave a magic wand” and that giving pay rises to striking staff would lead to money being taken away from “elsewhere in the NHS budget”. But he insisted that the government would continue to “engage in dialogue with the unions”.
Explaining the reasons for the strike, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The solution to the growing NHS crisis is staring the Government in the face. It’s simple, all the Chancellor needs to do is find the money to pay health workers fairly.
“The public wants the Government to end the dispute, so do NHS staff, but most ministers look like they’d rather dig in and do nothing instead of boost pay and help turn the ailing NHS around. Higher wages would stop experienced employees leaving for better paid jobs and encourage more people to come and work in the NHS. With more staff, ambulance response times would improve, and patient waits for treatment shorten. Everyone would be a winner."
Unions have not announced exactly how much ambulance workers are asking for. But it is understood that, along with others in the health sector, they are seeking an above-inflation pay rise, according to the BBC. The government says the demands are unaffordable, adding that NHS pay rises are decided by independent pay review bodies.
Combined walkouts in early February could lead to the biggest walkouts the NHS has ever experienced. Thousands of nurses and ambulance workers are due to stage walkouts on February 6 if no deal has been reached by then. And as nurses take strike action on February 7, they will be joined by midwives in Wales.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has described “constructive talks with unions about this coming year’s pay process for 2023/24”, but unions have been calling for the 2022/23 pay award to be reviewed.
How much do ambulance staff get paid?
Most newly qualified paramedics, who will have successfully completed a degree in paramedic science, are in the Band 5 of the NHS pay scale. That means a starting salary of £27,055, rising to £32,934 after four years. In addition, paramedics can earn more through "unsocial hours payments" and overtime.
Paramedics who have been working for two years can rise to become experienced paramedics. They are in Band 6 of the NHS pay scale and earn £33,706 a year, rising to £35,572 after two to five years and £40,588 after five years. They can also get additional pay through working overtime and unsociable hours.
Emergency care assistants work with paramedics as part of the ambulance crew team attending 999 calls. They most often will be the crew member driving the ambulance and will carry out emergency care under the supervision of paramedics, reports ChronicleLive.
Emergency care assistants are usually in band 3 or 4 or the NHS pay scheme. Band 3 starting salary is £21,730 rising to £23,177 after two years of experience. Band 4 means a starting salary of £23,949 rising to £26,282 after three years
Call handlers and emergency dispatchers typically start on Band 3 or Band 4 of the NHS pay scale. Under Band 3, staff start on £21,730, rising to £23,117 after two years.
Band 4 employees start on £32,949, rising to £26,282 after two years. Team leaders qualify for Band 6 pay and managers get Band 7.
The DHSC adds: "On average, ambulance staff have additional earnings worth around 37% of basic pay, covering unsocial hours, geographical supplements and overtime. This takes total earnings to around £47,000 per person."
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