Thousands of ambulance workers in the UK have started a one day strike on Wednesday, a day after the nurses stepped out, with unions and the government exchanging blame allegations for putting lives in danger.
The government advises people not to play contact sports or take unnecessary car trips to reduce the risk of needing an ambulance, as paramedics, operators and technicians across England and Wales held the biggest march in three decades.
Three ambulance unions went on strike for 12 or 24 hours. They have pledged to respond to life-threatening calls, but officials say they cannot guarantee everyone who needs an ambulance will receive one.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay told Sky News: “Today the system is going to be under tremendous pressure. “We’re telling the public to exercise their common sense about what they do, mindful of the pressures that are mounting on the system.”
Stephen Poweris, national health director of national health service in the UK, advises people not to be “blindly drunk”.
“It’s the season of parties, before Christmas, so enjoy yourself but obviously don’t get so drunk that you need to go to the emergency room,” he said, to the hospital’s emergency room. institute.
Healthcare workers and other public sector workers are looking to raise wages in the face of decade-high inflation that stood at 10.7% in November.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government argues that double-digit increases in the public sector will push inflation even higher.
Union leaders accused the government of deliberately prolonging the strike.
“I have never seen such a departure from a leadership role from Rishi Sunak and the medical secretary,” said Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union that represents several ambulance workers.
nurse also staged two days of strikes this month, putting pressure on the health system already strained by increased demand as pandemic restrictions are eased, in addition to staff shortages due to burnout. and Brexit, making it harder for Europeans to work in the UK.
Official statistics show that ambulances in many areas are regularly stuck outside hospital emergency departments, sometimes for hours because there are no beds for patients.
Ambulance crews will strike again on December 28. Railway workers, passport workers and postal workers are also planning to strike over the Christmas holiday season.
The UK’s biggest wave of strikes in decades is a response to a cost-of-living crisis caused by soaring food and energy prices following the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Due to industrial action, people across the UK are faced with hospital appointments, train cancellations and winter holiday travel delays. But opinion polls have suggested a high level of support for workers.
