An NHS leader has warned that ambulance response times will be heavily impacted as thousands of 999 call handlers, paramedics, and other staff go on strike.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said NHS trusts will do everything they can to minimise risks to patients but also highlighted that the health service was already experiencing a challenging period. It comes after Unison announced that thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics, as well as ambulance service staff will go on strike - likely before Christmas.
The union has been involved in a dispute over pay and staff numbers, stressing that services will continue to decline if these are not addressed. It comes after figures revealed that ambulance trusts in England have been repeatedly missing targets for reaching emergency patients.
