‘Please only dial 999 if lives could be at stake during strike’ says Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Health bosses are urging people not to ring 999 unless lives are at stake tomorrow as ambulance workers go on strike.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service says 57% of its workforce are in the unions taking action (GMB and Unison) – about 4,000 staff out of a workforce of 7,000.

This is the strike action expected to take place:

• GMB members are planning to take industrial action on Wednesday 21 and 28 December for 24 hours, between midnight and midnight (across all services)
• Unison members are planning to take action on Wednesday 21 December, for 12 hours from midday to midnight (A&E operations only).

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff will be involved in the walkout over the government’s 4% pay offer, described as a “real terms cut” by union bosses.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service says it has put a number of contingency plans in place “to allow it to respond to high acuity life-threatening and very serious cases during the strike”.

Following discussions with trade unions, it has been agreed that ambulances will continue to respond to calls where someone is in a life-threatening condition.

‘Services will be severely disrupted’

Nick Smith, executive director of operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “With continued operational pressures and the added challenge of industrial action, we will have less resources available to respond. 

“Services will be severely disrupted, with the likelihood of significant delays. 

“So, we are urging the public to use the emergency ambulance service more wisely and only to call 999 when someone is in a life-threatening or very serious condition as we prioritise our response to those most in need.

“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 will not receive a 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.”

He asked people to seek help and advice from alternative healthcare providers, including NHS 111 Online, their own GP or by visiting a pharmacist.

“Looking ahead, we also anticipate that the days between the two strike days will be busy and as we head into the extended Christmas period and would urge everyone to continue to use our services wisely,” Mr Smith added.