Ambulance workers have formed picket lines in Bristol as part of national strike action today (Wednesday, December 21). NHS Ambulance service workers and paramedics have taken a stand in a bitter dispute over pay and current working conditions.
Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions have come together to take action over pay and conditions, in action that is expected to affect the response to non life-threatening calls. Four picket lines were expected to form in the Bristol area, with the main one at North Bristol Operations Centre in Filton.
Eight ambulance trusts are currently on their highest level of alert and have declared critical incidents, with the BBC reporting that South Western Ambulance Service - which covers Bristol - is among them.
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The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trade Unions regarding terms and conditions over employment. Many stories about long ambulance waits, is just one of the reasons, paramedics and 999 call handlers will be taking a stand for change.
Will Warrender, chief executive at the South Western Ambulance Service, said: “Please help us to help those patients who need us most by only calling 999 if a patient has a life-threatening condition or illness. We know there are patients waiting for an ambulance, and we will get to you as soon as we can. We are sorry that we are unable to respond as quickly as we would like.
“We are doing all we can to manage winter pressures and the upcoming industrial action, including receiving military support during industrial action days which will allow our ambulance clinicians to be manning more ambulances and reach patients more quickly. The public can help us by only calling 999 for life threatening emergencies, we absolutely must have crews available for the most life-threatening conditions and we will be prioritising these patients.
“Please do not call back asking for an estimated time of arrival of an ambulance. We cannot provide this information and it blocks our lines from other callers reaching us. If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct you to alternative services. So please help us by accessing the right service for the care you need.
“I’d like to express my huge thanks to our people and NHS partners working to deliver the best possible care they can for our patients over the coming weeks.”
BristolLive is reporting live on the ambulance strikes happening today. You can stay-up-to-date by following the link here.
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