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Yorkshire Ambulance Service has released advice for the public in light of the industrial action taking place next week.
Ambulance workers continue their strikes over a national pay dispute with the government, where GMB union members will picket whilst ambulances will only attend to patients who are facing serious and life-threatening conditions.
There are approximately 1,370 members in the GMB out of the workforce of over 7.000 at Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS). Whilst talks between the union about pay are still ongoing, YAS has put in a “number of contingency plans” to allow them to respond to only the most serious cases during the strike.
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Nick Smith, executive director of operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “During the previous three strike days, the public responded as we’d asked them to and used our emergency service appropriately for very serious and life-threatening incidents. This was very helpful and eased the challenges we faced.”
“With further industrial action across key services, we will have fewer resources available to respond to patients on Monday, February 6. Services will be severely disrupted, with the likelihood of delays in emergency responses and telephone calls to 999 and NHS 111 being answered.
“So, once again, we are asking the public to use our services wisely, but particularly our emergency ambulance service. We will be here for those who really need us, but you should only call 999 when someone is in a life-threatening or very serious condition as we prioritise our responses.
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“Ambulances will still be able to respond during the strike, but this will only be where there is an immediate risk to life. Less serious calls may not receive a response or a significantly delayed response for the duration of the strike action and some patients might be asked to make their own way to hospital, where it is safe for them to so.
“Patients waiting for an ambulance should only call back if their symptoms worsen or to cancel an ambulance if alternative transport has been arranged, so that our lines are available to take new emergency calls. We also ask that people seek help and advice from alternative healthcare providers, including NHS 111 Online (111.nhs.uk), their own GP or by visiting a pharmacist.”
Monday’s industrial action will be followed by another day of action on Friday, February 10.
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