The NHS ambulance strikes began today, the biggest strike of its kind in 30 years.
But what personnel campaign? How many workers are on strike? And will heart attack patients continue to be taken to hospital by 999 crews?
MailOnline answers all your questions about today’s strikes.
Ambulance strikes begin today after up to 100,000 nurses went on strike yesterday as the NHS faces the biggest ever co-ordinated industrial action
NHS worst week for ambulance transfers: More than 12,500 patients taken to hospital by 999 crews face delays of more than an HOUR
More than 12,500 patients picked up by 999 crew members waited at least an hour last week before being handed over to hospital staff. Just over a third had to wait at least half an hour
How many employees are on strike?
Up to 26,600 paramedics across ten NHS trusts across England and Wales could strike today.
Staff organizing strikes include paramedics, emergency room staff and on-call workers.
The GMB, Unison and Unite coordinated the action.
Strikes are also planned for December 28, although only GMB members will be involved.
What areas are affected?
The GMB said up to 10,000 of its paramedics, emergency room assistants and on-call staff would attack nine ambulance trusts.
These include: South West Ambulance Service; South East Coast Ambulance Service; North West Ambulance Service; South Central Ambulance Service; Ambulance service in the North East; East Midlands Ambulance Service; West Midlands Ambulance Service; Welsh Ambulance Service; and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
Up to 15,000 Unison members are leaving five ambulance trusts.
These are: London Ambulance Service; Yorkshire Ambulance; North West Ambulance Service; Ambulance service in the North East; and South West Ambulance Service.
And Unite said more than 1,600 of its members would join three ambulance trusts in the industrial action.
These are: North West Ambulance Service; West Midlands Ambulance Service; and Ambulance North East.
The only NHS ambulance trust to be left untouched is the East of England. There is also no strike today on the Isle of Wight.
How long will the strikes last?
The strikes will last up to 24 hours, with some strikes lasting until 06:00 tomorrow morning. However, the exact strike times vary between ambulance trusts.
No further strikes have been announced so far, but union leaders may order more if the government does not give in to their demands.
What do paramedics earn?
The government says most ambulance workers received a pay rise of at least 4 per cent, taking their average base salary to £34,300.
But unions say the basic pay for a paramedic is no more than £23,000 and the government website says the starting pay for a paramedic is £25,655.
What do the unions want?
Unions have voted to strike over the government’s 4 percent pay cut.
Unite wants a pay rise “in line with the cost of living”.
GMB wants a “catch-up program” for its employees that “recovers a decade of lost income and a retention package that properly rewards existing employees”.
Meanwhile, Unison wants a pay rise above inflation. At the moment it will be at least 11 percent.
Up to 26,600 ambulance workers across nine NHS trusts in England and Wales are on strike today, with many walking out again on December 28.
Is the government negotiating?
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has so far refused to discuss wages with unions.
However, he met with them to work out last-minute patient safety agreements.
The nurses’ union, which has orchestrated its own strikes, has signaled it is compromising on its demand for a 19 percent pay rise.
But on Monday Unison boss Christina McAnea said just agreeing to come to the table now would not be enough.
She argued that unions would need a “strong commitment” and a “change of mindset” to consider ending the strikes.
How are patients disturbed?
Union law requires life-saving care to be provided by striking health workers.
In some cases, unions have agreed to allow workers only for life-threatening incidents where a person’s heart has stopped or they are not breathing. These are known as Category 1 calls and should be answered within seven minutes on average.
Others argue that it is up to individual members whether they should offer a more comprehensive service.
This raises the prospect that some heart attack and stroke patients may not be picked up. Such calls fall into category two and must be answered within 18 minutes on average.
Category 3 patients – usually including falls – and category 4 patients are unlikely to receive an ambulance during the strikes and be told to go to hospital themselves or seek treatment elsewhere.
Category four calls can include diarrhea and vomiting.
Patients who rely on NHS ambulances to transport them to hospital appointments may also be forced to make alternative travel arrangements.
During the strike, military personnel are called to support ambulance calls, but are not allowed to drive ambulances on blue lights for the most serious calls or for treatment.
During the strike, military personnel will be called to support ambulance calls, but will not operate ambulances with flashing lights on the most serious calls
What if I need to call 999 on a strike day?
The Department of Health said you should still call 999 in an emergency.
However, people who call 999 may have to wait longer to reach a call operator. Calls activated as usual are routed to other regions as necessary to reduce delays.
Health Secretary Will Quince urged people to stay safe during today’s strike, telling BBC Breakfast yesterday: “If people are planning risky activities, I would strongly encourage them not to as there are disruptions on these days.
“But most importantly, anyone in an emergency or life-threatening situation should continue to call 999 as before, and in any other situation NHS 111 or NHS 111 online.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
