People have been urged to only call 999 for life-threatening emergencies as staff from ambulance services go on strike again today.

Strike action is taking place at the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), which serves hospitals in East Lancashire, today (January 23) and Tuesday (January 24), with a picket line being held at Burnley General Hospital.

This is after Unison and Unite unions balloted their members for industrial action and met the legal threshold to take action. 

The NWAS said ambulances will be available but the public have been asked to only call one in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency.

 

 

A spokesperson said: “Our staff are taking part in industrial action today and tomorrow from 12.01am to 11.59pm.

“While ambulances will still be available, again, we are asking the public to support us by only calling 999 for life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

"This will ensure that ambulances are free for those people who really need our help.

“Typical emergencies include cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren’t stopping, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or allergic reactions and serious head injuries.

“Other patients requiring hospital treatment will likely be asked to take alternative transport, such as a taxi or get a lift from family or friends.

“You should use 111.nhs.uk, your GP or local pharmacy for help with non-urgent health concerns.

“Across both days we’ll have reduced ambulance crews but also reduced 999 and 111 call handling staff and fewer staff in our patient transport service.”

The East Lancashire Hospital Trust, which operates Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Accrington Victoria Community Hospital, said all appointments at the hospitals will continue but they have urged patients to make alternative travel arrangements.

A spokesperson said: “Strike action is taking place at North West Ambulance Service on January 23 and 24.

“All appointments and operations at East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals will continue.

“However if you rely on our patient transport service to get you to or from hospital, please consider alternative arrangements.”

They added: “Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases, when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

“If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.

“On days where there is strike action, please only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency.

“There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action being experienced by North West Ambulance Service and people with life-threatening needs will be prioritised.

“As a result patients whose conditions are not life threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance on strike days. 

“It is also likely that 999 call handlers will be very busy. NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff so please expect longer call response times. If you need non-urgent care, please visit NHS 111 online.”

Unison, one of the unions behind the strike action, hopes it will begin to solve the “crisis” currently facing the NHS.  

If Jeremy Hunt continues to resist appeals to release extra cash and kickstart talks with unions to end the strikes, the NHS dispute could run for many months, says the union.  

This warning comes as up to 15,000 UNISON ambulance workers walk out later today for the third time in five weeks over pay and staffing, says UNISON. They’ll be joined by as many as 5,000 of their NHS colleagues at two hospital trusts in Liverpool.   

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The solution to the growing NHS crisis is staring the government in the face. It’s simple, all the chancellor needs to do is find the money to pay health workers fairly.   

“The public wants the government to end the dispute, so do NHS staff. But most ministers look like they’d rather dig in and do nothing, instead of boost pay and help turn the ailing NHS around.  

“Higher wages would stop experienced employees leaving for better paid jobs and encourage more people to come and work in the NHS. With more staff, ambulance response times would improve, and patient waits for treatment shorten. Everyone would be a winner.  

“It’s strange that it’s the chancellor blocking progress. Jeremy Hunt knows the NHS better than anyone in the cabinet.   

“As health secretary, he negotiated the wage deal to end the 2015 NHS strike and pushed for fair pay when health select committee chair. But as chancellor he’s chosen to forget all that.   

“Jeremy Hunt knows improved wages are critical to solving the NHS staffing emergency. He must come out of hiding and unlock the funding to end the strikes. Then the focus can be on nursing the NHS back to good health."