More than 10,000 ambulance workers across nine NHS trusts in England and Wales will go on strike tomorrow in a dispute over pay. Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff from South West, South East Coast, North West, South Central, North East, East and West Midlands, Welsh and Yorkshire ambulance services will walk out.
Major pickets will be staged in Lancaster, Burnley, Liverpool, Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Wrexham, Brighton, Eastbourne, Medway, Stoke, Donnington, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield and Middlesbrough. It comes after GMB Union members voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4% pay award - which union leaders said amounts to “another massive real terms pay cut”.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “Ambulance workers across England and Wales will go on strike for the second time. GMB cancelled a planned strike over the Christmas period to say thank you to the public for their incredible support.
“It also allowed time for the Government to talk to us about pay, but Ministers have dithered and postured, wasting valuable time. To end this dispute, GMB needs a concrete offer to help resolve the NHS’s crushing recruitment and retention crisis. The public expects the Government to treat this dispute seriously – it's time they got on with it.”
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said there would be “pressure” on the system during the ambulance strike on Wednesday, but urged anyone with urgent health concerns to call NHS 111. Of course, if people have an urgent call issue, it is important that they call 111. If they have an emergency, then of course 999. But there will be pressure on the system tomorrow."
The Health Secretary insisted that the Government was “particularly focused on the pay review body which will start from April”.
“That is the right approach and we’ve been consistent in that, but at the same time we’re engaging, we’re listening, we’re working with trade union colleagues, because we recognise there’s very real pressure on the health system at the moment. And as part of that, obviously, it is not helpful to have the strikes tomorrow. That is a concern in terms of ambulances.”
All pickets taking place are highlighted in the map. Major pickets will take place at:
- North West 0700 – 1900
- Lancaster Fire and Ambulance Station, Cable St, Lancaster LA1 1HH
- Estuary Point, Garston Shore Rd, Liverpool L24 8RL
- Burnley General Teaching Hospital, Casterton Ave, Burnley BB10 2PQ
- East Midlands 0700 - 1900
- Lincoln Ambulance Station, South Park Avenue, LN5 8EL
- Kingsmill Station, Sutton Road, Mansfield, NG18 5HL
- Beechdale Station, Beechdale Road, Nottingham, NG8 3LL
- Gorse Hill Station, Antsey, Leicester, Le7 7GL
- West Midlands 0630 – 0830, 1030 – 1230, 1630 – 1830
- Donnington Hub – Wrekin Drive, Donnington TF2 8EA
- Stoke Hub – Etruria Valley Business Park, Forge Lane, ST1 5NP
- Hereford Hub – Ross Road, Grafton HR2 8BH
- Welsh Ambulance Service 0600 – 1800
- Wrexham Ambulance Service, Ruthin Road Wrexham LL13 7TU
- Cardiff East Pentwyn A/S MRD, Croescadarn Close, Pontprennau CF23 8HF
- Pembroke Dock A/S, Kingswood Industrial estate SA72 4RD
- Seacamb 0600 – 1800
- Brighton Make Ready Centre, Chamberlain House, Woollards Way, Brighton BN1 9BP
- Crawley HQ & EOC, Nexus House, 4 Gatwick Road, Crawley RH10 9BG
- Hastings Make Ready Depot , Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1ET
- SCAS 0600 – 1800
- Stoke Mandeville RC, Stoke Mandeville Hospital - Ent 2, Lower Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 8BD
- SWAS 0600 - 1800
- Salisbury Ambulance Station, Odstock Road, SALISBURY, SP2 8BG
- Weymouth Ambulance Station, Souter Way, Weymouth DT3 5BJ
- Swanage Fire Station, Kings Rd W, Swanage BH19 1HT
- Yorkshire 0600 – 2000
- Bramley Ambulance Station, Railsfield Rise, LS13 3AA
- Wakefield Ambulance Station, 41 Industrial Estate, Brindley Way, WF2 0XQ
- Bradford Ambulance Station, Northside Rd, Bradford BD7 2AY
- Huddersfield Ambulance Station, Westbourne Rd, Marsh, Huddersfield HD1 4LD
- North East Ambulance 0800 - 1900
- Coulby Newham - Ridgeway Old Stokesley Road, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 0TQ
- Stockton - Grangefield Road, Stockton on Tees TS18 4AB
- Bishop Auckland - Civic Centre, Watling Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6RP
