Don’t get drunk over Christmas: Urgent NHS warning to ‘drink sensibly’ and avoid anything ‘risky’ on eve of biggest ambulance strike in 30 years amid fears walk-outs will send health service into meltdown
- Health minister Will Quince urged the public not to do anything ‘risky’
- READ MORE: Why are nurses on strike? Questions about the action answered
- Should nurses get a 19 PER CENT pay rise? Vote here and tell us why…
- Have YOU been affected by NHS strikes? Email [email protected]
NHS bosses today begged Britons to ‘drink sensibly’ over Christmas so the health service doesn’t capitulate.
On the eve of the biggest ambulance walk-out since the 1980s, health minister Will Quince urged the public not to do anything ‘risky’.
Mr Quince also insisted it was ‘really important’ people don’t call for an ambulance unless their condition is ‘life-threatening’, urging Britons with other illnesses to use NHS 111.
Heart attack victims face being made to make their own way to hospital tomorrow, with soldiers drafted in to help cover 999 calls.
Meanwhile, the NHS pleaded with the public to behave sensibly to avoid piling even more pressure on ailing A&E units, which are already being battered.
Military personnel from the Household Division take part in ambulance driver training at Wellington Barracks in London, as they prepare to provide cover for ambulance workers on December 21 and 28
Elizabeth Jane Davies, 93, suffered a hip fracture in a fall at her residential care home in Llanbedrog, Llyn Peninsula
Sir Stephen Powis (left), NHS England’s medical director, said: ‘There is no doubt that the NHS is facing extreme pressure. Health minister Will Quince (right) today urged Britons not to do anything ‘risky’ tomorrow because of the disruption caused by strikes
Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s medical director, said: ‘There is no doubt that the NHS is facing extreme pressure.
‘Industrial action will add to the already record demand we are seeing on urgent and emergency care, and so it is really important that the public play their part by using services wisely.
‘This means continuing to call 999 for life-threatening emergencies – if it is not life-threatening you may have to wait longer than usual for an ambulance.
‘And using 111 online for other health needs where you will receive clinical advice on the best next steps to take.’
He added: ‘But people can also help by taking sensible steps to keep themselves and others safe during this period and not ending up in A&E – whether that is drinking responsibly or checking up on a family member of neighbour who may be particularly vulnerable to make sure they are ok.’
NEWCASTLE: Royal College of Nursing (RCN) General Secretary Pat Cullen, centre, joins members of the RCN on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle today
BIRMINGHAM: Members of the RCN take to the picket line outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham this morning
Military personnel from the Household Division take part in ambulance driver training at Wellington Barracks in London today
A Household Division troop prepares to provide cover for ambulance workers on December 21 and 28 when members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions take industrial action over pay
Pensioner, 93, left lying on the floor waiting for an ambulance for 25 HOURS after suffering a hip fracture
Elizabeth Jane Davies, 93, suffered a hip fracture in a fall at her residential care home in Llanbedrog, Llyn Peninsula
READ MORE: Pensioner, 93, was left lying on the floor waiting for an ambulance for 25 HOURS after suffering a hip fracture
Hours earlier, Mr Quince said: ‘Where people are planning any risky activity, I would strongly encourage them not to do so.’
Mr Quince, who reports into the Health Secretary Steve Barclay, did not specify what constituted ‘risky’ behaviour. No10 also refused to list examples.
However, Mr Quince later revealed in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live that such activities would include running on icy roads and playing contact sports.
Mr Quince told anyone with chest pains on Wednesday to call 999, despite the strike action by ambulance workers.
‘If you have chest pains, then phone 999. If it is not life-threatening, then it’s really important that people call NHS 111 or NHS 111 online,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The stark warning comes on the day thousands of nurses take to picket lines across the country in an ongoing dispute over pay.
Action could rumble on for six months, the union organising the chaos has warned.
Rishi Sunak has warned striking workers he will hold out against their ‘unreasonable’ pay demands for months if necessary.
Ambulance workers including paramedics, control room workers and technicians will join the growing wave of NHS strikes tomorrow.
Health chiefs say the action, co-ordinated by three separate unions, represents the most serious threat to date.
In some instances, unions have agreed to allow staff to attend only life-threatening incidents where a person’s heart has stopped or they are not breathing. These are known as category one calls and should be responded to within seven minutes, on average.
Others claim it will be down to individual members to decide if they wish to offer a more comprehensive service.
It raises the prospect that some heart attack and stroke patients may not be picked up. Such calls are classified as category two, and should be responded to within 18 minutes, on average.
The action means more people than expected will be forced to make their own way to hospital in an emergency and makes it more likely that they will die or be left with serious disabilities, experts fear.
Talks between ministers, GMB, Unison and Unite and NHS ambulance services are ongoing, however.
Around 600 members of the Army, Navy and RAF from across the country have been drafted in to help during the walkouts.
Some never driven the medically equipped vehicles before.
Troops received last-minute training today. Some have had to take time off to assist.
A senior officer overseeing training at Wellington Barracks in London acknowledged the demands would be new to some personnel but said troops were ‘confident’ and had ‘a huge amount of initiative’.
Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw, Brigade Major of the Household Division, said: ‘I think there’ll be a few nerves going out tomorrow – it’s a really important task and I think we’re incredibly proud.
‘And obviously being military, you just want to do the best you can possibly do on this sort of thing, so I’m sure there will be a few nerves.’
Personnel covering for striking ambulance workers on Wednesday will not be allowed to break red lights or turn on blue lights when driving.
They are not due to be sent on critical emergency callouts or carry out clinical tasks but ambulance trainers have told them they should be prepared to hand equipment to their clinical partner if asked.
Everything you need to know about the ambulance strikes
When are the strikes?
The ambulance strikes will take place on Wednesday December 21 and Wednesday December 28.
Who is striking?
Members of three unions, GMB, Unison and Unite, which represent around 25,000 ambulance workers, are walking out on a coordinated strike on Wednesday December 21.
The action will involve ambulance workers, paramedics, call handlers and emergency care assistants in 10 out of 11 NHS trusts in England and Wales.
GMB union members will then stage a further strike at nine trusts on December 28.
Why are they striking?
The unions voted to strike in a dispute over the Government’s 4% pay award.
It comes as a real terms pay cut with the UK’s current inflation standing at 11%.
Which areas will be affected?
The date and timings of the walkouts will vary between each union and ambulance service, as will the number of staff striking in each area.
More than 10,000 GMB members will walk out across nine trusts in England and Wales on both December 21 and December 28.
These include:
- South West Ambulance Service
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- North West Ambulance Service
- South Central Ambulance Service
- North East Ambulance Service
- East Midlands Ambulance Service
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- Welsh Ambulance Service
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Meanwhile, Unison members, including paramedics, emergency care assistants, ambulance technicians and other 999 crew, will walkout at five services on December 21.
These are:
- London Ambulance Service
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
- North West Ambulance Service
- North East Ambulance Service
- South West Ambulance Service
Workers represented by the Unite union will also walk out on December 21 at the following services:
- North West Ambulance Service
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- North East Ambulance Service
The regions most likely to be hit worst are the North East and North West of England, where all three unions have voted to strike.
Meanwhile, the East of England Ambulance Trust is the only one not affected by the walkouts.
Can you get an ambulance?
It is expected that all category 1 calls – the most life-threatening such as cardiac arrest – will be responded to.
Some ambulance trusts have agreed to exemptions with unions for specific incidents within so-called category 2 which covers serious conditions, such as stroke or chest pain.
However, patients in category three – typically including falls – and category four are unlikely to be sent an ambulance during the strikes.
Military personnel are being drafted in to provide support on ambulance calls during the strike but will not drive ambulances on blue lights for the most serious calls.
What should you do in an emergency on strike days?
The Department of Health and Social Care has said advice remains for people to call 999 in an emergency.
Health minister Will Quince urged people to stay safe during Wednesday’s strike, telling BBC Breakfast: ‘Where people are planning any risky activity, I would strongly encourage them not to do so because there will be disruption on the day.’
The health minister also told the public that in any emergency calling 999 should still be the first option.
‘But the key thing is for anybody that does have an emergency situation or a life-threatening situation that they continue to call 999 as they would have done previously, and for any other situation, NHS 111 or NHS 111 online.’
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