Yorkshire ambulance workers will walk out again today as the pay dispute continues.
It means urgent health services will be disrupted this evening and tonight (Friday).
Unite members employed by the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, including paramedics and call handlers, will strike for up to seven hours, with strike action occurring between 2pm and 10pm.
Nick Smith, executive director of operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “It’s very important that people use our emergency service appropriately on Friday so that resources can be focused where they are needed, and particularly on very serious and life-threatening incidents.
“All of our services are likely to be disrupted, with a possibility of delays in emergency responses and telephone calls to 999 and NHS 111 being answered.
“We need the public to use our services wisely; we will be here for those who really need us, but you should only call 999 when someone is in a life-threatening or very serious condition.
“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.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are returning to the picket lines in targeted industrial action to place further pressure on the Government to reopen pay negotiations.
“The current pay deal does not address the fundamental problems undermining the NHS.
“Workers have suffered real-terms pay cuts for over a decade and can no longer afford to make ends meet, resulting in experienced staff leaving the NHS in droves.”
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