Government slammed for refusing wage talks as paramedics go on strike

Thousands of paramedics will take part in the first of two day-long strikes, which Health Secretary Steve Barclay says are a "decision aware" of unions of "inflicting harm" on patients

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All you need to know about ambulance strikes

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has accused unions of making a 'conscious decision' to 'inflict harm' on patients as thousands of paramedics walk out in first of two strikes of a day.

Mr. Barclay has urged the public to show 'extra care' after latest talks with unions on Tuesday failed to avert industrial action by around 25,000 workers in England and Wales. p>

But unions have angrily accused the government of putting lives at risk by refusing to engage with them on the issue of wages.

But writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Barclay said: 'We now know that NHS emergency plans will not cover all 999 calls. Ambulance unions have made the conscious choice to impose harm to patients."

Union leaders insisted there would still be cover for the most serious appeals through a series of local agreements.

Mr. Barclay urged the public to take "extra precautions" (

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said claims that many serious appeals were going unanswered were 'misleading' and 'deliberately alarmist at worst' by ministers.

Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, said that if there were any deaths during the strike, it would be "absolutely" the fault of the government.

“They were totally irresponsible,” she told TalkTV. "It's totally irresponsible of them to refuse to open any kind of talks or negotiations with us."

Earlier the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, who collectively represent all NHS organisations, wrote to the Prime Minister warning that they were entering "dangerous territory" and urging him to get out of dead end.

“With less than 24 hours to go before the ambulance strike, NHS leaders are deeply concerned about the level of harm and risk that could arise for patients tomorrow and beyond,” they said.

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However, appearing before the Commons Li...