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Are NHS staff taking it too far by striking on the same day?

The NHS today faces it’s biggest ever strike as ambulance staff and nurses walk out together for the first time in the pay dispute. 

Up to 40,000 nurses, paramedics and emergency call handlers are taking part in the coordinated chaos, which follows similar walk-outs that have already taken place this winter. 

Even more NHS strikes are on the way this week, with another round of industrial action penciled in for nurses tomorrow, while physiotherapists are taking action on Thursday and more ambulance workers join picket lines on Friday. 

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Health leaders have warned of ‘significant disruption’ due to the scale of the action, while ministers have warned that patients’ lives will be put at risk due to delayed care and slower ambulance response times. 

Today’s disruption was organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), GMB and Unison, who have demanded the Government coughs up millions to pay workers more amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The RCN action will take place at 73 trusts in England, where up to 30,000 will strike.

More than 11,000 ambulance staff who are members of the GMB and Unite unions will hit services across England and Northern Ireland.  

More than 50,000 nurses, paramedics and emergency call handlers are taking part in the coordinated strike action today. Pictured above, nurses on the picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital, London on February 6

The RCN action will take place at 73 trusts in England, where up to 40,000 will strike. More than 11,000 ambulance staff who are members of the GMB and Unite unions will hit services across England and Northern Ireland. Pictured above, striking ambulance workers on the picket line outside Fazakerley Ambulance Station, Liverpool on February 6 

Even more NHS strikes are on the way this week, with another round of industrial action penciled in for nurses tomorrow, while physiotherapists are taking action on Thursday and more ambulance workers join picket lines on Friday 

Today’s disruption was organised by the unions the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), GMB and Unison, who have demanded the Government coughs up millions to pay workers more amid the cost-of-living crisis

The latest NHS data shows ambulance response times are more than five times the target for some emergencies. Response times for the most urgent calls — for people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries, such as cardiac arrest sufferers — soared to a record high of nearly 11 minutes, on average. The NHS target is 7 minutes

The RCN is calling for an 18.4 per cent pay rise — based on the current rate of inflation. It would see the average nurses’ salary go from £37,000 to £43,800.

But the union said it would halt the current strike action if the Government meets with its representative to discuss pay.

Workers across the ambulance service voted in December to strike over the Government’s 4 per cent pay award. 

The Government has insisted its offer of around 4 per cent, or £1,400, is all it can afford. The deal, awarded last year, was backed by the NHS Pay Review Body. 

Unions argue that low pay is forcing staff to leave the health service, exacerbating long standing staffing issues and contributing to worsening ambulance response times. 

The latest NHS data shows ambulance response times are more than five times the target for some emergencies. 

Response times for the most urgent calls — for people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries, such as cardiac arrest sufferers — soared to a record high of nearly 11 minutes, on average. The NHS target is 7 minutes. 

Ambulances also took an average of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 54 seconds to respond to category two 999 calls, which includes heart attacks, strokes, burns and epilepsy.

This is five-times longer than the NHS’s 18-minute target.

Unions have committed to providing ‘life and limb’ emergency cover on strike days.  

Junior doctors could also join the action later in the year with the British Medical Association currently balloting its members on strike action.