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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26223399
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fourth day of strike action at Yorkshire Ambulance Service | Fourth day of strike action at Yorkshire Ambulance Service |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Yorkshire Ambulance Service has urged the public to use the service "wisely" ahead of a fourth strike by paramedics. | Yorkshire Ambulance Service has urged the public to use the service "wisely" ahead of a fourth strike by paramedics. |
| Members of the Unite union walked out for five hours from 15:00 GMT in protest against new shift patterns. | |
| The union claims proposed longer shift patterns could lead to staff working for up to 10 hours without a meal break and affect patient safety. | The union claims proposed longer shift patterns could lead to staff working for up to 10 hours without a meal break and affect patient safety. |
| The trust said it continued "to strongly refute" the union's claims about the shift changes. | The trust said it continued "to strongly refute" the union's claims about the shift changes. |
| Unite members took industrial action for a period of 24 hours on 1 February, for four hours on 3 February and for five hours on Friday. | Unite members took industrial action for a period of 24 hours on 1 February, for four hours on 3 February and for five hours on Friday. |
| 'Patient safety' | 'Patient safety' |
| Speaking last week, Terry Cunliffe, Unite regional officer, said: "The latest strikes over elongated shift patterns follow the latest refusal of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to meet Unite to resolve the dispute." | Speaking last week, Terry Cunliffe, Unite regional officer, said: "The latest strikes over elongated shift patterns follow the latest refusal of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to meet Unite to resolve the dispute." |
| The union claimed new shift patterns would be "unsafe" for staff and impact on patient care, but the trust has denied this. | The union claimed new shift patterns would be "unsafe" for staff and impact on patient care, but the trust has denied this. |
| David Whiting, chief executive at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said that less than 2% of the workforce took part in the earlier strikes. | David Whiting, chief executive at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said that less than 2% of the workforce took part in the earlier strikes. |
| "Industrial action in this form is certainly not in the best interests of patients," he said. | "Industrial action in this form is certainly not in the best interests of patients," he said. |
| "It is deeply concerning for a trade union representing ambulance service workers to strike without making any concessions to patient safety." | "It is deeply concerning for a trade union representing ambulance service workers to strike without making any concessions to patient safety." |
| Mr Whiting said the trust had contingency plans in place to deal with the strike but asked the public to call for an ambulance only "when someone has a life-threatening or serious illness or injury." | Mr Whiting said the trust had contingency plans in place to deal with the strike but asked the public to call for an ambulance only "when someone has a life-threatening or serious illness or injury." |