Health Secretary Steve Barclay has accused trade unions of making a "conscious decision" to "inflict harm" on patients as thousands of ambulance staff walk out on the first of two one-day strikes.
Mr Barclay urged the public to take "extra care" after last ditch talks with the unions on Tuesday failed to avert industrial action by around 25,000 staff in England and Wales.
But the unions angrily accused the Government of putting lives at risk by refusing to engage with them on the issue of pay.
