STRUCK DOWN
Strikes by ambulance staff and nurses to ‘cost lives this week’, fear government insiders
STRIKES by ambulance staff and nurses this week will cost lives, government insiders fear.
Emergency plans to try to cope are being hampered by unions’ refusal to say what cover they will provide.
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To limit the danger, hospitals are scrambling to get patients home before nurses strike on Tuesday and paramedics Wednesday.
Forces personnel will drive ambulances but NHS bosses have warned the sick and frail may have to get taxis or drive themselves to hospital.
A government insider said it was difficult to plan as Unite and the GMB “won’t say what they will cover”.
He said: “It makes it very difficult to prepare and it could cost lives.”
READ MORE ON THE STRIKES
No10 has ruled out increasing the pay offer to NHS staff, arguing it would fuel inflation and cost too much.
Yet some government insiders believe there is a path out of the dispute.
The independent pay review body will begin looking at the 2023 wage settlement in February.
It is likely to be higher because of rising inflation and could take the sting out of the current row.
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Tory MP Dan Poulter, a doctor, said nurses “do have a point”.
He said the pay review body recommended the current pay increase which many NHS staff have rejected before the Ukraine war sent the cost of living rocketing.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay, described the ongoing strike action as “deeply regrettable”.
He said: “No one wants to see patients put at risk”.
He added: “I’ll make every effort to encourage a reasonable dialogue about maintaining vital emergency services during strikes.”
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