East Midlands Ambulance Service Workers Begin Strike Action

Staff at East Midlands Ambulance Service have walked out on strike.

The 24-hour action by paramedics, technicians and call handlers is over pay.

Around half of workers employed by EMAS are taking part, all members of the GMB Union.

Life-threatening 999 calls will still be responded to, although patients who have non life-threatening conditions will have to wait longer for an ambulance.

EMAS says it will aim to minimise the impact of strike action on patients.

Ben Holdaway, Director of Operations, said: “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 anticipate that on days where there is industrial action that there will still be fewer ambulances available and therefore our responses to our patients will, inevitably, be much slower on the day.

“Therefore our 999 control rooms, where possible, will carefully assess and prioritise an ambulance response for those who need it most, and this may only be where there is a threat to life.

“Patients should continue to call for an ambulance as normal if they experience a life-threatening emergency and should continue to access other more appropriate services for any other illnesses or injuries such as NHS111 online or contacting their local Urgent Treatment Centre.

“We fully respect the right of NHS staff to take lawful and peaceful industrial action, however we do urge national employer representatives and trade union colleagues to proactively engage and reach a negotiated settlement to the dispute as quickly as possible.”

A number of ambulance services are taking part in the strike across the country.

The action will end at 6am on Thursday, but a further 24-hour walkout will take place from 6am on December 28th.