Ambulance workers across the South West are likely to strike before Christmas, following the results of UNISON’s month-long NHS strike ballot.
Thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their colleagues working for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust are to be called out on strike over pay and staffing levels.
Commenting on the ballot results, UNISON South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: “The decision to take action and lose a day’s pay is always a tough call. It’s especially challenging for those whose jobs involve caring and saving lives.
“But thousands of ambulance staff and their NHS colleagues know delays won’t lessen, nor waiting times reduce, until the government acts on wages. That’s why they’ve taken the difficult decision to strike.
“Patients will always come first and emergency cover will be available during any strike. But unless NHS pay and staffing get fixed, services and care will continue to decline.
“The public knows health services won’t improve without huge increases in staffing and wants the government to pay up to save the NHS.”
