Taxis could be used to field non urgent calls
(Picture: PA Archive)Taxis could take patients to hospital during ambulance strikes, a health minister has said.
Will Quince, minister of state for health and social care, said that as thousands of paramedics strike on December 21 and 28 - ambulances that are functioning would be reserved for the greatest emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes.
But other forms of transport could be used for less-urgent call-outs, he said on Monday.
Mr Quince told the House of Commons: “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.
“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.”
Category 3 covers urgent problems, such as diabetic issues, and category 4 is for non-urgent problems that still need transport. Categories 1 and 2 are the most serious calls.
Patients should still call 999 in an emergency, he said, or if someone is seriously ill or injured. He added that patients should still turn up to appointments.
“Hospitals will do everything they can to make sure planned procedures go ahead, but it is inevitable that any strike will mean some patients will have their treatment delayed,” he said.
Mr Quince added that people will be contacted if their appointment needs to be changed.
Military personnel have been called up to deal with some calls but are not set to drive ambulances for emergencies as they would not have permission to jump red lights.
A spokesperson for the prime minister Rishi Sunak said: “We are not suggesting that there won’t be serious disruption caused by strikes.
“These individuals [the military personnel] are going to be extremely helpful in mitigating some of that disruption, but nonetheless, it will have an impact.”
