Sick people forced to fend for themselves during second ambulance strike — as unions threaten more chaos

THE sick had to fend for themselves yesterday in a second ambulance strike — as unions threatened more chaos.

Thousands of paramedics and call-handlers walked out, leaving many with long delays or no service.

Calls to 999 dropped during the day as patients got help elsewhere or waited for the action to end.

Medic Jenny Giblin, on the picket line in Birkenhead, Merseyside, admitted: “I’ve got an elderly father and I thought, ‘I really hope he doesn’t get ill today’.”

PM Rishi Sunak told MPs it was terrifying that patients could not count on 999.

Meanwhile, unions announced a boycott of the pay-review process, saying they would not take part until after crisis talks for the current year.

Doctors’ leaders will talk to Health Secretary Steve Barclay today over fears of a 72-hour March strike by junior docs.

Up to 4,200 physios will strike on January 26 and February 7 if they do not get a better deal.

Last night, it was announced 100,000 civil servants with the Public and Commercial Services union would strike on February 1.

They include staff from Border Force, the DVLA and Job Centres.