Army personnel who are being drafted in to cover ambulance workers through this month's NHS strikes will have to stick to the speed limit, and are banned from running red traffic lights - it has recently emerged.
A predicted number in the region of 750 armed forces troops will be deployed next week - while 10,000 ambulance workers stage widespread walkouts, in a long-running dispute with the Tory Government over pay and working conditions.
But those set to drive emergency vehicles will be diverted largely to non-urgent cases, due to road restrictions.
The Mirror reports that while blue lights and sirens are cleared for use, Army staff will be forced to follow normal driving rules - meaning that they can't break the national speed limit or soar through red lights. A health minister has also said that some less urgent 999 callers could expect a taxi turning up at their door instead of an ambulance vehicle while the strikes run.
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.”
Ministers yesterday held an emergency COBRA meeting to discuss plans for military staff and civil servants - who will be covering for striking workers over the coming weeks. Soldiers and officials are also being trained in the instance that they are drafted to ports and airports - with border staff also preparing strikes from December 23 to New Year's Eve.
Another COBRA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, as the Government aims to avoid scenes of widespread disruption across the board. The first national ambulance strike in 30 years is set to follow on one week later.
GMB, Unison and Unite are coordinating industrial action for the day after a planned nurses' strike unless the Government agrees to open pay talks. In the region of 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. Downing Street has said that major winter walkouts will cause 'serious disruption' in the health service despite the military stepping in to alleviate some pressures.
Asked what roles military personnel will be taking on in the NHS, 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."
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