'Take yourselves to hospital in strikes', Brits warned, as health secretary launches last-ditch bid to avoid walkouts

20 December 2022, 02:26 | Updated: 20 December 2022, 05:39

Patients could have to take themselves to A&E amid the strikes
Patients could have to take themselves to A&E amid the strikes. Picture: Getty

By Emma Soteriou

Some British people have been told they will need to take themselves to hospital in the ambulance strikes on Wednesday, as health secretary Steve Barclay joins talks today in a last-ditch bid to avoid industrial action.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Striking ambulance workers - including paramedics, control room workers and technicians - represent the most serious threat to date, NHS bosses have warned.

They have said thousands of patients who have had strokes, heart attacks or broken bones will have to get themselves to A&E on Wednesday.

A series of hospitals and ambulance trusts have been forced to declare critical incidents across the UK, leading to calls for health workers to cancel planned walkouts.

Mr Barclay will meet unions representing ambulance drivers in 11th hour talks on Tuesday, despite discussions being unlikely to avert the action.

It comes as thousands of nurses stage a second walkout in a row over pay today, with around a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England taking part.

Mr Barclay wants to discuss patient safety with Unison, GMB and Unite amid concerns over whether all emergency calls will be covered.

But unions said there would be "no strikes at all if ministers would only talk to unions and improve NHS pay".

Mr Barclay said: "The RCN's demands are unaffordable during these challenging times and would take money away from frontline services while they are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic. I'm open to engaging with the unions on how to make the NHS a better place to work."

Read more: Anger as locum doctors boast about earning £17k a month while nurses use foodbanks and strike over pay

Read more: Minister says government is 'resolute' on pay, as nurses threaten further industrial action

Thousands of nurses are staging a second walkout
Thousands of nurses are staging a second walkout. Picture: Alamy

Speaking ahead of the strike, RCN chief executive Pat Cullen said: "The Prime Minister should ask himself what is motivating nursing staff to stand outside their hospitals for a second day so close to Christmas.

"They are prepared to sacrifice a day's pay to have their concerns heard. Their determination stems as much from worries over patient safety and the future of the NHS than personal hardship.

"Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure in Westminster following last Thursday's strike and he should listen to people around him.

"The public is increasingly with their local nursing staff and this Government desperately needs to get on the right side of them. It is unprecedented for my members to strike.

"Let's get this wrapped up by Christmas. I will negotiate with him at any point to stop nursing staff and patients going into the new year facing such uncertainty.

"But if this Government isn't prepared to do the right thing, we'll have no choice but to continue in January and that will be deeply regrettable."

Mr Barclay will meet unions representing striking ambulance drivers in 11th hour talks on Tuesday
Mr Barclay will meet unions representing striking ambulance drivers in 11th hour talks on Tuesday. Picture: Alamy
Rishi Sunak is standing firm against strikers
Rishi Sunak is standing firm against strikers. Picture: Alamy

However, Mr Sunak has insisted that he will stand firm against strikers amid the mass walkouts.

He said he was "incredibly disappointed" by the industrial action bringing key services to a halt, "particularly at Christmas, particularly when it impacts people’s health".

In an interview with the Mail, he also warned striking paramedics not to follow through with their threat to refuse help for those in distress during their walkout on Wednesday.

The PM said: "I really urge the unions to consider the impact these strikes are having on people’s lives and their health and to consider whether that’s really appropriate."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Many Britons again faced freezing temperatures overnight

Brits brace for Storm Bert: Met Office issues amber weather warning for snow - with up to 40cm set to fall

Harshita

'We will never forget you till our last breath': Family of Harshita Brella pay tribute - as manhunt continues for killer

Live
Gatwick airport.

LIVE: Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious item found'

Exclusive
Negative images from Band Aid did 'more bad than good' for Africa, says rapper Fuse ODG

Negative images from Band Aid did 'more bad than good' for Africa, rapper Fuse ODG tells LBC

Breaking
Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious bag found near train station' as bomb squad called in

Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious bag found near train station' as bomb squad called in

Simone White will be 'sincerely missed', a tribute to her has said

Devastated colleagues pay tribute to British lawyer as Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ death toll rises to six

Colette Fairbanks was sacked after sharing ‘offensive’ posts

Brexit views not protected from workplace discrimination, tribunal rules after woman sacked over ‘offensive’ posts

The Metropolitan Police carried out a controlled detonation of a suspect package near the US embassy in London

US Embassy in London on 'lockdown' as police investigate 'suspect package'

Coleen Rooney said her husband Wayne has not been forgiven in the court of public opinion

Coleen Rooney opens up on Wayne's 'difficult' mistakes as she says he hasn't been forgiven in court of public opinion

Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel

Laos hostel owner arrested after Brit lawyer becomes fifth tourist to die in 'poisoning'

Holly Bowles, 19, from Melbourne, has died in the ‘methanol mass poisoning’

Sixth person dies in Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ as hostel owner detained by police

Exclusive
Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

'We're destroying what should be the finest river on Earth': Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

Household energy bills will rise again from January

Household energy bills to rise by £21 a year from January in further blow for Brits this winter

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

'The world must respond': Zelenskyy warns that Putin is 'testing' the West after confirmed use of new ballistic missile

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz withdraws

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to Britain as Starmer vows to enforce International Criminal Court warrant