Thousands of health workers will take to picket lines across Northern Ireland on Thursday to protest against the backdrop of an "unprecedented" cost-of-living crisis.
The 24-hour stoppage will be the second full day of action taken by health sector unions in their campaign to secure safe staffing, better pay, and improved mileage allowances.
Ambulance workers including paramedics, nurses, carers and other health and social care workers will take to picket lines at hospitals across Northern Ireland in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase.
Read more: NI health workers set to take to picket lines again in 24 hour walk-out
NIPSA, UNISON, Unite and GMB members, will be at 38 locations across the five Health and Social Care Trusts.
It comes as Northern Ireland’s health service has faced sustained pressure in recent months, with people being advised on several occasions of long waits at emergency departments due to capacity issues.
NIPSA health and social care staff have been on a continuous work to rule since 5 December last year following a massive 92.6% vote by members to go on strike. They last took to the picket lines on December 12.
Terry Thomas, NIPSA Assistant Secretary, said: “It is a disgrace that NIPSA health service members are again forced to take industrial action tomorrow to again reinforce their issues around pay, safe staffing and travel reimbursement.
“NIPSA along with our sister trade unions in health continue to stress that the current industrial action is forced upon members and the inaction by politicians and government only serves to do further disservice to both the health service and the most vulnerable citizens in our society who rely on this.
“Their message is loud and clear that they remain more resolute and determined to succeed and we call on government and employers to engage with trade unions and negotiate meaningful resolutions not just for staff but for a health service in crisis.”
Unite members across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) returned an average 87% vote in favour of strike action.
Unite’s lead regional officer for health in Northern Ireland, Kevin McAdam, said: “Nobody should be in any doubt regarding our members’ determination to defend their living standards amidst an unprecedented cost of living crisis.
“Our members will be joining members of other health trade unions on the picket lines tomorrow, and Unite has already notified employers that we will also be taking action on 16, 17, 23 and 24 February.”
Meanwhile, the NIAS has warned that there will be challenges throughout the day and has planned to maintain the safety of those patients whose need is greatest.
A NIAS spokesperson said: "The impact of the action will be felt most on those patients calling NIAS whose need is less clinically urgent. We anticipate that there will be lengthy delays in responding to these categories of calls.
"To ensure that we maintain the levels of cover required to respond to the most urgent calls, we would ask the public to call us only in life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding and others.
"We would also ask that, having placed a 999 call, the public should resist calling back to check on the arrival time of the ambulance. The ambulance will arrive at the earliest opportunity and calling back repeatedly can block lines into the control centre for other emergencies.
"We stress that ambulances will still be available, however, they will be limited and we will prioritise patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
"Callers should not hesitate to call 999 in the case of serious illness or injury, but other callers should consider other options including self-care, seeking GP or Pharmacy advice or presenting themselves to Emergency Departments."
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