Paramedics 'don't want to strike' but patients 'will die' if crisis continues

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Unison chief says government has left NHS drifting into a dire state and strike is the only way to make sure things get done do not become "more dangerous" in the front line

Paramedics and NHS staff do not want to strike but fear patients will die if the staffing crisis continues, unions say.

Unison leader Christina McAnea says members have been 'forced to take this desperate step because the government has left the NHS in such a dire state'.

Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden will lead an emergency COBRA meeting today ahead of a massive wave of strikes by nurses, paramedics, railway staff, driving instructors, postal workers and Border Force officials.

Another COBRA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. The army is preparing to intervene at borders and drive ambulances to minimize disruption.

Ms McAnea urges the government to work to end conflict instead of “raising the bar by talking about COBRA and the military”.

Paramedics don't want to strike - but they fear the government won't listen unless they do (
Picture:
Adam Gerrard/Daily Express)
Writing in the mirror, she warns: "If NHS workers don't take a stand on salaries and staffing, more patients will die while waiting for emergency care. Every day the situation becomes more dangerous ."

Nurses are due to take part in walkouts in England and Wales next Thursday and Tuesday, with paramedics joining the action next week.

The Royal College of Nursing and Unison said it would suspend strikes if ministers were prepared to talk pay, but the government rejected the offer yesterday. Labor's Wes Streeting has accused ministers of 'spoiling the fight' over NHS strikes this winter.

“It is totally unreasonable for the government not to want to negotiate,” he told Sky News.

RCN chief Pat Cullen yesterday suggested nurses would be flexible on their demand for a 5% pay rise above inflation - with RPI inflation exceeding 12%.
>
She said, "My door is open."

The government has proposed a salary increase of 4% on average.

He pushed back on talks saying pay rises should be determined by the independent pay review body.

Politics Dec 12, 2022 0 51 Add to Reading List

Paramedics 'don't want to strike' but patients 'will die' if crisis continues

Exclusive:

Unison chief says government has left NHS drifting into a dire state and strike is the only way to make sure things get done do not become "more dangerous" in the front line

Paramedics and NHS staff do not want to strike but fear patients will die if the staffing crisis continues, unions say.

Unison leader Christina McAnea says members have been 'forced to take this desperate step because the government has left the NHS in such a dire state'.

Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden will lead an emergency COBRA meeting today ahead of a massive wave of strikes by nurses, paramedics, railway staff, driving instructors, postal workers and Border Force officials.

Another COBRA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. The army is preparing to intervene at borders and drive ambulances to minimize disruption.

Ms McAnea urges the government to work to end conflict instead of “raising the bar by talking about COBRA and the military”.

Paramedics don't want to strike - but they fear the government won't listen unless they do (

Picture:

Adam Gerrard/Daily Express)

Writing in the mirror, she warns: "If NHS workers don't take a stand on salaries and staffing, more patients will die while waiting for emergency care. Every day the situation becomes more dangerous ."

Nurses are due to take part in walkouts in England and Wales next Thursday and Tuesday, with paramedics joining the action next week.

The Royal College of Nursing and Unison said it would suspend strikes if ministers were prepared to talk pay, but the government rejected the offer yesterday. Labor's Wes Streeting has accused ministers of 'spoiling the fight' over NHS strikes this winter.

“It is totally unreasonable for the government not to want to negotiate,” he told Sky News.

RCN chief Pat Cullen yesterday suggested nurses would be flexible on their demand for a 5% pay rise above inflation - with RPI inflation exceeding 12%.

She said, "My door is open."

The government has proposed a salary increase of 4% on average.

He pushed back on talks saying pay rises should be determined by the independent pay review body.