Soldiers who ar being brought in to drive ambulances during strike action will not b allowed to break the speed limit or cross red lights to get to and from emergency situations. Around 750 members of the armed forces will be deployed next week as 10,000 ambulance workers are due to join walkouts, reports the Mirror.
They will be allowed to use blue lights and sirens, but will have to follow the driving rules as other road users. A health minister said some people who call 999 during the strikes will see an ambulance arrive at heir doors instead of paramedics.
Will Quince told MPs: "999 calls are triaged and categorised from category 1 to category 4. On the days of ambulance strike action it’s likely that category 1 and category 2 calls, where there is an immediate threat to life, will be responded to.
"And we are looking at ways in which we can provide additional support for category 3 and category 4 including things like block booking taxis and things like support through community healthcare and local authorities and community support.”
Soldiers and officials are also being trained in case they are needed at ports and airports, as border staff prepare to strike for eight days from December 23 to New Year's Eve.
The first national ambulance strike in 30 years is planned for next Wednesday.
GMB, Unison and Unite are coordinating industrial action for the day after a planned nurses' strike unless the Government agrees to open pay talks.
10,000 ambulance workers with GMB have voted to strike after a decade of below-inflation pay awards. GMB is planning a second walk-out for its members on December 28.
It represents paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers. Nine of the 10 ambulance services in England and Wales will join strikes, with only the East of England unaffected.
Asked what roles military personnel will be taking on, the Prime Minister's spokesman told reporters: "There are fairly long-standing processes in place of how military personnel can help in these circumstances.
"Obviously, we recognise their skill-sets will be different but they can help alleviate pressures to free up paramedics and other people with the necessary skills so they can carry on treating patients and get where they need to be."
He added: "There's still some discussions I believe ongoing with the unions about exactly what areas they plan to provide cover for, and that will probably inform some of the roles that these individuals have to carry out as well.
"But clearly we are not suggesting that there won't be serious disruption caused by strikes.
"These individuals are going to be extremely helpful in mitigating some of that disruption, but nonetheless, it will have an impact."
