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| Ambulance staff and nurses to strike on same day | Ambulance staff and nurses to strike on same day |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ambulance workers are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in England and Wales in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute. | Ambulance workers are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in England and Wales in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute. |
| The GMB announced four new stoppages for ambulance staff - one of which coincides with a nurses' strike date. | The GMB announced four new stoppages for ambulance staff - one of which coincides with a nurses' strike date. |
| It is the first time both ambulance staff and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have acted on the same day. | It is the first time both ambulance staff and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have acted on the same day. |
| It comes as RCN members are taking part in two days of strikes on Wednesday and Thursday this week. | It comes as RCN members are taking part in two days of strikes on Wednesday and Thursday this week. |
| GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said: "Ambulance workers are angry. Our message to the government is clear - talk pay now." | |
| The walkouts by staff including paramedics, call handlers and support workers in seven of the 10 English ambulance services along with the national Welsh service will take place on 6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March. | The walkouts by staff including paramedics, call handlers and support workers in seven of the 10 English ambulance services along with the national Welsh service will take place on 6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March. |
| On Monday, the RCN set 6 and 7 February as the dates for its biggest strike to date, involving more than a third of services in England and all but one health board in Wales. | On Monday, the RCN set 6 and 7 February as the dates for its biggest strike to date, involving more than a third of services in England and all but one health board in Wales. |
| Under trade union laws, both unions will have to provide emergency cover. | Under trade union laws, both unions will have to provide emergency cover. |
| But it raises the prospect of urgent 999 calls for falls not being responded to, and a huge chunk of pre-planned hospital care such as hernia repair, hip replacements or outpatient clinics not being done. | But it raises the prospect of urgent 999 calls for falls not being responded to, and a huge chunk of pre-planned hospital care such as hernia repair, hip replacements or outpatient clinics not being done. |
| A&E nurse: Most challenging I've seen in 30 years | A&E nurse: Most challenging I've seen in 30 years |
| Are nurses striking in your area? | Are nurses striking in your area? |
| New nurse strike dates as union escalates dispute | New nurse strike dates as union escalates dispute |
| The call to get round the negotiating table was echoed by RCN general secretary Pat Cullen as her members walked out on Wednesday for the third time this winter. | The call to get round the negotiating table was echoed by RCN general secretary Pat Cullen as her members walked out on Wednesday for the third time this winter. |
| "We have extended an olive branch, in fact the whole tree, to government. We've said meet us halfway, so now come on." | "We have extended an olive branch, in fact the whole tree, to government. We've said meet us halfway, so now come on." |
| 'I won't strike - but I back the fight' | 'I won't strike - but I back the fight' |
| Clint Cooper, a nurse for nearly 30 years, will cross the picket line on Wednesday to work on a heart-care ward at Scarborough Hospital, in North Yorkshire, while fully supporting his striking colleagues. | Clint Cooper, a nurse for nearly 30 years, will cross the picket line on Wednesday to work on a heart-care ward at Scarborough Hospital, in North Yorkshire, while fully supporting his striking colleagues. |
| "I believe in the principle of what my colleagues are doing," he says, "but I voted 'No', as I cannot walk out and leave my patients. | "I believe in the principle of what my colleagues are doing," he says, "but I voted 'No', as I cannot walk out and leave my patients. |
| 'Last week, I had two patients who were very poorly and I wonder if I hadn't been there and escalated it, would they still be alive, if I had walked out - that's my conscience talking to me." | 'Last week, I had two patients who were very poorly and I wonder if I hadn't been there and escalated it, would they still be alive, if I had walked out - that's my conscience talking to me." |
| Nevertheless, the government needs to find the money for a bigger pay rise, Mr Cooper says. | Nevertheless, the government needs to find the money for a bigger pay rise, Mr Cooper says. |
| 'I'm a Tory voter - I have voted for them at every election apart from one - but I can't vote for them again," he says. "The NHS is in crisis. | 'I'm a Tory voter - I have voted for them at every election apart from one - but I can't vote for them again," he says. "The NHS is in crisis. |
| 'This is not just about pay, it is about the future of the NHS. Nurses don't want clapping. They want the resources to do their job. They are highly skilled and they are the backbone of the NHS.' | 'This is not just about pay, it is about the future of the NHS. Nurses don't want clapping. They want the resources to do their job. They are highly skilled and they are the backbone of the NHS.' |
| Both unions have asked for above-inflation rises. | Both unions have asked for above-inflation rises. |
| But the governments in England and Wales have given NHS staff an average of 4.75%, with everyone guaranteed at least £1,400 - as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body. | But the governments in England and Wales have given NHS staff an average of 4.75%, with everyone guaranteed at least £1,400 - as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body. |
| That is less than half the rate of inflation, although latest figures show the rate at which prices are rising has started to slow. | That is less than half the rate of inflation, although latest figures show the rate at which prices are rising has started to slow. |
| Meanwhile, patients are being warned to expect widespread disruption to services on Wednesday and Thursday because of the RCN walkout. | Meanwhile, patients are being warned to expect widespread disruption to services on Wednesday and Thursday because of the RCN walkout. |
| One out of every four hospitals and community services are affected by the strikes from 08:00 to 20:00 GMT. | One out of every four hospitals and community services are affected by the strikes from 08:00 to 20:00 GMT. |
| But GP practices will run as normal, because nurses working in those services are not involved in the strike action. | But GP practices will run as normal, because nurses working in those services are not involved in the strike action. |
| Saffron Cordery of NHS Providers, which represents NHS services, said the scale of the walkout and the fact it was over two consecutive days meant it would probably have "greater impact". | Saffron Cordery of NHS Providers, which represents NHS services, said the scale of the walkout and the fact it was over two consecutive days meant it would probably have "greater impact". |
| "We're expecting widespread disruption," she said. "It will be felt on the day as well in the days that follow." | "We're expecting widespread disruption," she said. "It will be felt on the day as well in the days that follow." |
| Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, warned that without a pay deal patients would face the effects of a "prolonged war of attrition between the government and the unions". | Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, warned that without a pay deal patients would face the effects of a "prolonged war of attrition between the government and the unions". |
| But the government has made it clear it is not willing to move on this year's pay award. | But the government has made it clear it is not willing to move on this year's pay award. |
| However, one option being explored by Health Secretary Steve Barclay is backdating the 2023-24 rise to January. It would normally kick in in April. | However, one option being explored by Health Secretary Steve Barclay is backdating the 2023-24 rise to January. It would normally kick in in April. |
| This has already been tabled in Scotland, leading to NHS strikes being halted for further negotiations - although staff there received a 7.5% pay rise this year. | This has already been tabled in Scotland, leading to NHS strikes being halted for further negotiations - although staff there received a 7.5% pay rise this year. |
| The Treasury has not agreed to the idea. | |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his government wanted a "constructive dialogue" with trade unions amid a wave of strike action. | |
| But he added: "We do also need to make sure that those conversations are based on what's reasonable, what's responsible for the country as we tackle inflation." | |
| What patients need to know | What patients need to know |
| People seriously ill or injured, and whose life is at risk, should call 999 as usual, or call 111 for non-urgent care | People seriously ill or injured, and whose life is at risk, should call 999 as usual, or call 111 for non-urgent care |
| Other services, such as some cancer treatments or urgent testing, may be partially staffed | Other services, such as some cancer treatments or urgent testing, may be partially staffed |
| More routine care is likely to be badly affected, including planned operations such as knee and hip replacements, community nursing services and health visiting | More routine care is likely to be badly affected, including planned operations such as knee and hip replacements, community nursing services and health visiting |
| Anyone with an appointment not already rearranged should attend at their allotted time | Anyone with an appointment not already rearranged should attend at their allotted time |
| GPs, community pharmacies and dentists will be unaffected | GPs, community pharmacies and dentists will be unaffected |
| Are you a nurse? Have you voted on strike action? Get in touch. | Are you a nurse? Have you voted on strike action? Get in touch. |
| Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
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