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| Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers | Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ambulance strike: Unions refused to work with us on national planning - Steve Barclay | Ambulance strike: Unions refused to work with us on national planning - Steve Barclay |
| Ambulance strike: Unions refused to work with us on national planning - Steve Barclay | Ambulance strike: Unions refused to work with us on national planning - Steve Barclay |
| Ministers and unions have clashed over who would be to blame for any deaths during ambulance strikes. | Ministers and unions have clashed over who would be to blame for any deaths during ambulance strikes. |
| Unions said the government was at fault for refusing to negotiate on pay but Health Secretary Steve Barclay blamed the opposite side for striking when the NHS was under significant pressure. | Unions said the government was at fault for refusing to negotiate on pay but Health Secretary Steve Barclay blamed the opposite side for striking when the NHS was under significant pressure. |
| He said unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients", provoking an angry response. | He said unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients", provoking an angry response. |
| Paramedics are among those striking in England and Wales on Wednesday. | Paramedics are among those striking in England and Wales on Wednesday. |
| Control room staff and support workers who are members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions are also involved. | Control room staff and support workers who are members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions are also involved. |
| Unions representing ambulance workers want pay increases to keep up with the rising cost of living. They have not set a specific figure but argue any offer needs to be high enough to prevent a recruitment crisis. | Unions representing ambulance workers want pay increases to keep up with the rising cost of living. They have not set a specific figure but argue any offer needs to be high enough to prevent a recruitment crisis. |
| However, ministers say they will not negotiate on pay as they have met independent pay recommendations. | |
| NHS bosses are warning patient safety cannot be guaranteed during the strike action, although unions say life-threatening callouts will still be responded to by an ambulance. | NHS bosses are warning patient safety cannot be guaranteed during the strike action, although unions say life-threatening callouts will still be responded to by an ambulance. |
| They also argue patients are already being put at risk due to waiting times, made worse by staff shortages. | |
| Follow the latest ambulance strike developments live | Follow the latest ambulance strike developments live |
| Nurses in Scotland reject pay offer from NHS | Nurses in Scotland reject pay offer from NHS |
| What calls will ambulances answer on strike day? | What calls will ambulances answer on strike day? |
| Why are nurses and ambulance staff striking? | Why are nurses and ambulance staff striking? |
| In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Barclay accused ambulance unions of choosing to harm patients and making contingency planning more difficult. | In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Barclay accused ambulance unions of choosing to harm patients and making contingency planning more difficult. |
| He said unions had refused to work with the government at a national level on how they would cover emergency calls during strike action. | He said unions had refused to work with the government at a national level on how they would cover emergency calls during strike action. |
| Unison said it was "utterly shocked" by the comments, while the GMB union said they were "insulting". | Unison said it was "utterly shocked" by the comments, while the GMB union said they were "insulting". |
| Mr Barclay later told BBC Breakfast ambulance unions had chosen to strike at a time "when the system is already facing very significant pressure" from increased flu and Covid admissions. | Mr Barclay later told BBC Breakfast ambulance unions had chosen to strike at a time "when the system is already facing very significant pressure" from increased flu and Covid admissions. |
| Asked who would be responsible for any deaths during the industrial action, he said: "It is the trade unions who are taking this action at a point of maximum pressure for the NHS." | Asked who would be responsible for any deaths during the industrial action, he said: "It is the trade unions who are taking this action at a point of maximum pressure for the NHS." |
| But the unions rejected Mr Barclay's claims. | |
| Sharon Graham, head of Unite, said the blame for the strikes "lies squarely at the door of the government". | Sharon Graham, head of Unite, said the blame for the strikes "lies squarely at the door of the government". |
| She accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the worst "abdication of leadership" she had seen in 25 years, by refusing to negotiate on pay. | She accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the worst "abdication of leadership" she had seen in 25 years, by refusing to negotiate on pay. |
| Christina McAnea, head of Unison, said the health secretary had "never specifically asked Unison for a national contingency agreement" and had acknowledged local unions had negotiated "detailed, appropriate plans for their areas". | Christina McAnea, head of Unison, said the health secretary had "never specifically asked Unison for a national contingency agreement" and had acknowledged local unions had negotiated "detailed, appropriate plans for their areas". |
| She has previously said any deaths during the strikes would "absolutely" be the fault of the government for refusing to open negotiations. | She has previously said any deaths during the strikes would "absolutely" be the fault of the government for refusing to open negotiations. |
| What do I do if I'm hurt? | What do I do if I'm hurt? |
| Patients who are seriously ill or injured, or whose lives are in danger, are being advised by the NHS to call 999. | Patients who are seriously ill or injured, or whose lives are in danger, are being advised by the NHS to call 999. |
| For all other healthcare needs, the NHS is advising people to contact NHS 111 online or via the NHS 111 helpline, or to contact their local GP or pharmacy. | For all other healthcare needs, the NHS is advising people to contact NHS 111 online or via the NHS 111 helpline, or to contact their local GP or pharmacy. |
| Prof Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said people should be "sensible" on a "very difficult day" for the health service. | Prof Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said people should be "sensible" on a "very difficult day" for the health service. |
| He urged people not to get "blind drunk" at Christmas parties and end up in A&E unnecessarily. | He urged people not to get "blind drunk" at Christmas parties and end up in A&E unnecessarily. |
| Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the strike action had "come at the worst possible time" as the NHS is already "under immense pressure". | Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the strike action had "come at the worst possible time" as the NHS is already "under immense pressure". |
| He said Tuesday's nursing strike had reduced patient discharges from hospital, leaving them even "fuller" with less space for ambulances to offload. | He said Tuesday's nursing strike had reduced patient discharges from hospital, leaving them even "fuller" with less space for ambulances to offload. |
| Ambulance response times for emergency category two 999 calls, such as strokes and heart attacks, are already twice as long as two years ago. | Ambulance response times for emergency category two 999 calls, such as strokes and heart attacks, are already twice as long as two years ago. |
| Picket line less busy than during nurse strikes | Picket line less busy than during nurse strikes |
| The scene outside Cardiff's ambulance headquarters | The scene outside Cardiff's ambulance headquarters |
| By Tomos Morgan, BBC Wales correspondent, in Cardiff | |
| The picket line outside Cardiff's ambulance headquarters in the north east of the city is far less dramatic than what I saw during Tuesday's nurses strike. At times there have been only three or four ambulance workers taking part - and there a several reasons why. | The picket line outside Cardiff's ambulance headquarters in the north east of the city is far less dramatic than what I saw during Tuesday's nurses strike. At times there have been only three or four ambulance workers taking part - and there a several reasons why. |
| It seems a number of those on strike have been called out to deal with "red alert" emergencies. The agreement was that staff taking part in industrial action would go back to work if required to deal with these the most serious calls (a threat to life or limb). | |
| There's also the practicalities. The headquarters is not on a main road, so it is not as visible and not getting the same amount of reaction from the public. | There's also the practicalities. The headquarters is not on a main road, so it is not as visible and not getting the same amount of reaction from the public. |
| And of course, no doubt the weather is playing it's part - it's pouring here at the moment. | And of course, no doubt the weather is playing it's part - it's pouring here at the moment. |
| There are currently no signs ministers will budge on pay, although some Conservative MPs believe they will have to compromise eventually. | There are currently no signs ministers will budge on pay, although some Conservative MPs believe they will have to compromise eventually. |
| Asked whether the government would stick to its position not to deviate from the offer recommended by the independent pay review body, Mr Barclay said this was "a long-standing position". | |
| However, he said staff should "look forward" to next year's pay review process, which is already under way. | However, he said staff should "look forward" to next year's pay review process, which is already under way. |
| The UK is facing a wave of strikes this winter, with nurses, rail workers and Royal Mail staff among those walking out. | |
| Some MPs are concerned offering concessions on pay to one group of workers could lead to other demanding the same, which they argue would make inflation worse. | Some MPs are concerned offering concessions on pay to one group of workers could lead to other demanding the same, which they argue would make inflation worse. |
| What's happening in my area? | What's happening in my area? |
| Not all unions are striking for the same hours on Wednesday, and it is difficult to say how many workers at each individual service will strike. | Not all unions are striking for the same hours on Wednesday, and it is difficult to say how many workers at each individual service will strike. |
| You can use our interactive tool to find out which unions are on strike at your local ambulance service: | You can use our interactive tool to find out which unions are on strike at your local ambulance service: |