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NI strike: Ambulance Service says 'major incident' will remain in place | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Ambulance Service has said it will keep a "major incident" in place for the remainder of today's strike. | |
Paramedics were ruled out of strike action on Thursday evening when management declared a "major incident". | |
Staff were canvassed on Friday to see if they would remain on duty to respond to serious and life-threatening calls if the major incident was stood down. | |
Only 10% of the 41 crews said they would remain on duty. | |
The Ambulance Trust said in the absence of a concrete commitment from enough staff to sustain a safe service, the trust said it had been left with no option but to keep the major incident in place. | |
The trade union, Unison, said the decision came as no surprise to them and that there was a serious loss of good will among ambulance staff. | |
In a text to staff at 2340 GMT on Thursday, the Ambulance Service said: "Please be advised that a major incident has been declared due to critical levels of cover and in line with the guidance issued by your union you are expected to report for duty as normal." | |
Management said they had been forced to take the measure "to maintain a safe level of ambulance cover". | |
Unions reacted angrily accusing management of "pulling a stunt" and said the move was "provocative". | |
The Ambulance Service said it was "inundated" with calls saying staff would be striking. | The Ambulance Service said it was "inundated" with calls saying staff would be striking. |
In a statement to the media, it said it had "exhausted all alternative contingency options, and lives would be at risk if we allowed the situation to deteriorate further". | In a statement to the media, it said it had "exhausted all alternative contingency options, and lives would be at risk if we allowed the situation to deteriorate further". |
Due to previous agreements between management and unions, it meant crews were required to turn up for duty on Friday. | |
In a tweet, the Ambulance Service added: "Two cities and many towns without ambulance cover is the only reason NIAS declared major incident." | |
John McPoland of the Ambulance Service said at midnight there were seven crews available for all emergencies across Northern Ireland. | John McPoland of the Ambulance Service said at midnight there were seven crews available for all emergencies across Northern Ireland. |
"If we hadn't have declared a major incident because the level of services had decreased so much, we would be left with a situation this morning, where rather than having to explain a major incident, I could have been in here trying to explain to some family why a child who was choking in Newtownabbey, a three-month-old child, had perhaps died," he said. | "If we hadn't have declared a major incident because the level of services had decreased so much, we would be left with a situation this morning, where rather than having to explain a major incident, I could have been in here trying to explain to some family why a child who was choking in Newtownabbey, a three-month-old child, had perhaps died," he said. |
"Last night we had no crews to respond to any emergencies in Belfast". | "Last night we had no crews to respond to any emergencies in Belfast". |
Analysis: Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent | Analysis: Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent |
This is an extremely serious development; an obvious breakdown of communication between both parties - management and unions. | This is an extremely serious development; an obvious breakdown of communication between both parties - management and unions. |
Last night, the NI ambulance service received a steady stream of calls from ambulance crews saying they were withdrawing their labour at midnight. | Last night, the NI ambulance service received a steady stream of calls from ambulance crews saying they were withdrawing their labour at midnight. |
A decision was taken by management to declare a major incident across Northern Ireland. | A decision was taken by management to declare a major incident across Northern Ireland. |
That was due to not having enough staff as opposed to there actually being an incident. | That was due to not having enough staff as opposed to there actually being an incident. |
Many people are furious, accusing management of acting in bad faith. Those I spoke to said management had been told as early as last Friday that there would be a substantial walkout. | Many people are furious, accusing management of acting in bad faith. Those I spoke to said management had been told as early as last Friday that there would be a substantial walkout. |
They said there was inadequate forward planning. | They said there was inadequate forward planning. |
In a worrying development, there is talk of further action, what's been described as triggering a blue flag day. | In a worrying development, there is talk of further action, what's been described as triggering a blue flag day. |
That is when crews book a sick day on a date agreed among themselves with little or no notice given in advance to management. | That is when crews book a sick day on a date agreed among themselves with little or no notice given in advance to management. |
However, some paramedics described management's response as "despicable" and a "purely tactical measure". | However, some paramedics described management's response as "despicable" and a "purely tactical measure". |
Ambulance crews had earlier agreed to respond only to 999 calls for cases that are life-threatening. | Ambulance crews had earlier agreed to respond only to 999 calls for cases that are life-threatening. |
Patricia McKeown of the union, Unison, said the service's decision to "declare a major incident across the whole of Northern Ireland two hours in advance of strike action is provocative". | Patricia McKeown of the union, Unison, said the service's decision to "declare a major incident across the whole of Northern Ireland two hours in advance of strike action is provocative". |
"There are no indications that such a major incident exists," she said. | "There are no indications that such a major incident exists," she said. |
"Ambulance staff have the right to strike and we will support our members who chose to exercise their right. By declaring a major incident NIAS has effectively binned the agreements reached earlier." | "Ambulance staff have the right to strike and we will support our members who chose to exercise their right. By declaring a major incident NIAS has effectively binned the agreements reached earlier." |
She said the Ambulance Service move could be "irreparably damaging industrial relations". | She said the Ambulance Service move could be "irreparably damaging industrial relations". |
Kevin McAdam of Unite accused management of "pulling a stunt". | Kevin McAdam of Unite accused management of "pulling a stunt". |
"We advised our members to return to normal roles in response to the NIAS's action in line with undertakings we had given," he said. | "We advised our members to return to normal roles in response to the NIAS's action in line with undertakings we had given," he said. |
"The trade unions know now the facts on the ground: that there was no major incident, rather there was an inability and unwillingness for management to effectively manage the strike. | "The trade unions know now the facts on the ground: that there was no major incident, rather there was an inability and unwillingness for management to effectively manage the strike. |
"We are unhappy and disgusted by the NIAS cynically exploiting this part of the emergency cover understanding to thwart the industrial action." | "We are unhappy and disgusted by the NIAS cynically exploiting this part of the emergency cover understanding to thwart the industrial action." |