Ambulance strike dates 2023: Full list of NHS walkouts
MORE than half a million appointments, operations and procedures have been postponed in England as a result of NHS strikes.
A wave of NHS walkouts began towards the end of 2022, with ambulance workers, nurses, junior doctors taking part, but have been more strikes in 2023.
When are ambulance services on strike?
GMB, Unite and Unison workers have taken strike action in January, February, March, and June 2023.
Here are the dates so far in 2023. Future dates have yet to be revealed.
- Monday, January 23 - GMB (West Midlands), Unite and Unison ambulance workers
- Tuesday, January 24 - GMB (North West) ambulance workers
- Thursday, January 26 - Unite (in Northern Ireland)
- Monday, February 6 - Unite (in North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales), plus GMB ambulance workers and nurses
- Thursday, February 16 - Unite (in Northern Ireland) plus GMB workers
- Friday, February 17 - Unite (in West Midlands and Northern Ireland)
- Monday, February 20 - Unite (in East Midlands, North East and Wales) plus GMB workers
- Wednesday, February 22 - Unite (in North West)
- Thursday, February 23- Unite (in Northern Ireland)
- Friday, February 24- Unite (in Northern Ireland)
- Monday, March 6 - Unite (in North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales) plus GMB workers
- Monday, March 20 - Unite (in North West, North East,West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales) plus GMB workers
- Monday, June 12 - Unite (in West Midlands)
- Wednesday, June 14 - Unite (the Christie hospital in Manchester and the City Hospital in Birmingham)
Member of the Unite union at the West Midlands Ambulance Service walked out on Monday June 12, 2023.
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Unite also saw action take place at Christie hospital in Manchester and the City Hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
Junior doctors also took part in a 72-hour strike from June 14 - 17.
Unite did not back the deal agreed between the Government and NHS workers in May.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Unite will continue to escalate its industrial action until the Government returns to the negotiating table and makes NHS workers a fair pay offer.
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“Our members are clear that a decade of real terms pay cuts and under investment is undermining the future of the NHS.
"The pay offer put forward by the government does nothing to address the recruitment and retention crisis of staff which is promoting the current staff exodus. Ministers must know that.”
GMB and Unison members working in the NHS and ambulance service voted to accept the NHS pay offer in April 2023.
Under trade union law, emergency cover will be provided and staff can leave the picket lines to attend.
What should you do if you need an ambulance?
If you require medical attention during the strikes the advises people to call 111 to assess their situation.
Ambulances will still be able to respond in situations of serious illness, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
Call-handlers will be able to give patients advice on what to do next.
There may be circumstances where it is suitable for people to make their own way to hospital.
Why are ambulance services on strike?
The strikes happened due to a dispute over pay and staffing shortages.
The government's refusal to release extra funds for healthcare workers could lead to more months disruption, unions have said.
In February 2023, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Rather than act to protect the NHS and negotiate an end to the dispute, the government has disgracefully chosen to demonise ambulance workers. Ministers are deliberately misleading the public about the life and limb cover and who is to blame for excessive deaths.
"Our members faithfully provide life and limb cover on strike days and it’s not the unions who are not providing minimum service levels: It’s this government’s disastrous handling of the NHS that has brought it to breaking point."
In April 2023, 52% of Unite members rejected the government's offer of a five per cent pay increase, whereas the unions GMB and Unison had a majority vote in favour of the deal.
In June 2023 it was revealed that, as a result of the NHS strikes, more than half a million appointments, operations and procedures had been postponed in England.
Are all ambulance staff members on strike?
Ambulance crews working for five services in England represented by Unison have been involved in the strikes.
The strikes have includes paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers.
Strike dates have differed depending on location.
Ahead of the strikes, it was reported that some staff would still be answering emergency calls and sending out ambulances to life-threatening incidents.
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It was said that crews would still respond to category 1 emergency calls, which include situations like heart attacks or strokes, where the patient needs immediate treatment to prevent death.
Some category 2 emergencies, such as a stroke, would also be attended, but most category 2, 3 and 4 emergencies are not covered while the strikes are in action.