Ambulance Strike To Go-Ahead After Talks Fail To Resolve Dispute

Staff at East Midlands Ambulance Service will strike tomorrow after talks with the Health Secretary failed to resolve a dispute over pay.

Members of the GMB Union will walk-out for 24 hours from midnight, joining more than 10,000 workers nationwide in taking action.

EMAS say around half of its workforce are likely to strike, meaning fewer ambulances being available and delayed response times, although agreement with the union means life-threatening 999 calls will still be responded to.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said:  “Today’s talks fell well short of anything substantial that could stop this week’s strikes.

“There was some engagement on pay – but not a concrete offer that could help resolve this dispute and make significant progress on the recruitment and retention crisis.

“The public expects the Government to treat these talks seriously – it’s time they got on with it.”

It will be the second time EMAS staff have walked out, following a strike in December.

Ben Holdaway, Director of Operations at EMAS, said: “Industrial action last took place at EMAS on 21 December 2022, and despite a 33% reduction in emergency and urgent calls on the day, it remained immensely challenging.

“We are again working closely with trade union colleagues, and NHS and blue-light service providers across the region to do all we can to minimise the impact on patient safety.

“Our operational teams have developed contingency plans to aim to maximise the number of ambulance staff and volunteers we have available to respond to patients, as well as clinical staff able to carry out remote clinical assessments.

“However, we again anticipate that on Wednesday there will be fewer ambulances available and therefore our responses to our patients will, inevitably, be much slower on the day.”