5 times the cheeky Health Secretary refused to accept blame for NHS strikes

The government has continued to resist demands for wage negotiations, despite the heads of the Royal College of Nursing and ambulance unions saying they will cancel the walkouts if the ministers managed. the table

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Image: PA)

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has mounted an extraordinary attack on striking healthcare staff accusing them of making "a conscious choice to harm patients".

The top Tory, who has been accused of using bully tactics, said emergency plans would not cover all 999 calls during today's mass walkout by ambulance staff.

He added, "The ambulance unions have made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients."

Union leaders insist cover is in place for the most serious calls through a series of local agreements.

Christina McAnea of ​​Unison said she was "shocked" by his inflammatory language, while Rachel Harrison of GMB called his remarks "truly insulting" to the hard-working staff.

The government continued to resist demands for wage negotiations, although leaders of the Royal College of Nursing and ambulance unions have said they will call off the walkouts if ministers meet around the table.

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Servicemen from the Household Division participate in the training of paramedics (

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PENNSYLVANIA)

The Health Secretary argues the pay rises were decided by the independent pay review body - despite ministers being able to overrule it.

And he insisted that the fault for the walkouts lies with the unions.

Here are some of the times the top Tory tried to blame it on the workers.

Top Tory makes inflammatory claim that unions made a 'conscious choice' to harm patients

Mr. Barclay stoked the fury by writing a bullish piece in the Telegraph today in which he squarely blamed the strikes on the unions.

“We now know that NHS emergency plans will not cover all 999 calls. Ambulance unions have made the conscious choice to inflict...