This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64050277
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers | Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers |
| (about 2 months 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 preventable deaths during ambulance strikes. | Ministers and unions have clashed over who would be to blame for preventable deaths during ambulance strikes. |
| Unite boss Sharon Graham accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of telling "a blatant lie" when he said ambulance unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients". | Unite boss Sharon Graham accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of telling "a blatant lie" when he said ambulance unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients". |
| Mr Barclay blamed unions for striking when the NHS was under significant pressure. | Mr Barclay blamed unions for striking when the NHS was under significant pressure. |
| But the unions said he was at fault for refusing to negotiate on pay. | But the unions said he was at fault for refusing to negotiate on pay. |
| Paramedics, control room staff and support workers, who are members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions, are striking across much of England and Wales on Wednesday. | Paramedics, control room staff and support workers, who are members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions, are striking across much of England and Wales on Wednesday. |
| Follow the latest ambulance strike developments live | Follow the latest ambulance strike developments live |
| 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? |
| 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. | However, ministers say they will not negotiate on pay as they have met independent pay recommendations. |
| 'Utterly shocked' | 'Utterly shocked' |
| 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. | They also argue patients are already being put at risk due to waiting times, made worse by staff shortages. |
| 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". |
| Sharon Graham (centre), the head of the Unite union, joined striking ambulance workers on a picket line in Coventry | Sharon Graham (centre), the head of the Unite union, joined striking ambulance workers on a picket line in Coventry |
| 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 preventable 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 preventable 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 unions rejected Mr Barclay's claims. | But unions rejected Mr Barclay's claims. |
| Ms Graham said: "The unions have negotiated critical cover, including 999 calls, at a local level with hosts of NHS Trusts. | Ms Graham said: "The unions have negotiated critical cover, including 999 calls, at a local level with hosts of NHS Trusts. |
| "Steve Barclay obviously doesn't understand how these issues are dealt with in the NHS. | "Steve Barclay obviously doesn't understand how these issues are dealt with in the NHS. |
| "That is an embarrassment for him and the government. He has now lost all credibility. Clearly he isn't the man for the job." | "That is an embarrassment for him and the government. He has now lost all credibility. Clearly he isn't the man for the job." |
| 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. |
| Burnt out | Burnt out |
| 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. |
| Some unions and ambulance services said there had been less demand than usual on Wednesday, as the public appeared to heed warnings to only call in an emergency. | Some unions and ambulance services said there had been less demand than usual on Wednesday, as the public appeared to heed warnings to only call in an emergency. |
| Unions have agreed striking workers can leave picket lines to respond to the most serious, life-threatening calls if necessary. This contributed to some picket lines being less busy than during Tuesday's nursing strikes. | Unions have agreed striking workers can leave picket lines to respond to the most serious, life-threatening calls if necessary. This contributed to some picket lines being less busy than during Tuesday's nursing strikes. |
| In Cardiff, all those on the picket line were called away to respond to emergencies. | In Cardiff, all those on the picket line were called away to respond to emergencies. |
| Outside other ambulance headquarters the scene was noisier, with some members of the public honking their car horns or dropping off food to show their support. | Outside other ambulance headquarters the scene was noisier, with some members of the public honking their car horns or dropping off food to show their support. |
| Dave Skinner, an emergency medical technician for the London Ambulance Service who is striking, said staff were burnt out and struggling with shortages. | Dave Skinner, an emergency medical technician for the London Ambulance Service who is striking, said staff were burnt out and struggling with shortages. |
| "Patients are dying waiting for us because there's physically nobody to send," he told the BBC. | "Patients are dying waiting for us because there's physically nobody to send," he told the BBC. |
| He said experienced people were leaving the profession for better pay and conditions, adding: "I don't blame my colleagues for going elsewhere." | He said experienced people were leaving the profession for better pay and conditions, adding: "I don't blame my colleagues for going elsewhere." |
| One paramedic, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they would not strike, after the "bad memories of how [industrial action in 1989] left me financially". | One paramedic, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they would not strike, after the "bad memories of how [industrial action in 1989] left me financially". |
| However, they said they understood why others had chosen to walk out. | However, they said they understood why others had chosen to walk out. |
| "This government is systematically destroying the NHS and harming patients on a daily basis," they told the BBC. | "This government is systematically destroying the NHS and harming patients on a daily basis," they told the BBC. |
| Pay review | Pay review |
| 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". | 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. | 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: |
| Related Topics | |
| GMB | |
| NHS | |
| Unite | |
| Strike action | |
| Stephen Barclay | |
| Unison |