Health Secretary Steve Barkley is scheduled to hold crisis talks with the ambulance union on Tuesday over emergency strike coverage.
Barclay plans to meet with leaders of three unions representing ambulance workers to discuss what compensation will be offered for 999 calls in Wednesday’s wage lawsuit, but the NHS said Tuesday will be hit by a strike by
Some people with serious health conditions will be forced to call a taxi rather than an ambulance to get to the hospital.
Rishi Sunak is fighting a wave of strikes across the UK as public sector and non-public unions respond to the cost of living crisis and demand higher wages for their members.
Industrial action by NHS workers is the prime minister’s biggest challenge, poll This suggests that the public favors strikes over wages. Some Conservative MPs believe more funding should be provided.
Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, which organized nurses’ strikes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland last Thursday and went on strike this week, said the public was “increasingly working with local nursing staff. and this government desperately needs to stand on their right side.”
Suggesting that the wage dispute could be “closed by Christmas,” she said that “anytime, to stop nursing staff and patients from entering the New Year in the face of such uncertainty,” with Sunak. He said he would negotiate.
If not, Cullen added, “It’s going to have to continue in January, which is very disappointing.”
But Sunak on Monday defended the government’s decision to follow NHS wage recommendations by an independent review body and urged health unions to consider whether the strike was “really necessary”.
“It’s really disappointing to see unions calling for a strike, especially at Christmas, and seeing how much it affects people’s daily lives,” he said.
The idea of a one-time payment to NHS workers has been debated by government insiders, but it would set a costly precedent, so according to those briefed on the debate, Downing Street and the Treasury Rejected by
Berkeley has tried to talk with unions about next year’s NHS payment round, which will come into force in April 2023, but the government has refused to reopen the settlement this year.
A government official said the independent review body would take into account the very tight labor market and the need for wages to be able to retain and recruit NHS workers.
But union leaders want to discuss wage settlements this year. The RCN is demanding a 19% pay raise for her nurse, and the Ambulance Union is seeking price increases to match inflation.
Most NHS staff in England received a flat £1,400 pay raise backdated to April after the government accepted a recommendation from an independent review body in July. This represents an increase in average base wages for workers of approximately 4%.
Christina McAnea, head of the Unison union, which represents paramedics and other NHS staff, said “the government will eventually have to hold talks to resolve this issue.”
A senior RCN official suggested the nurses’ strike could last until next year if unions cannot reach an agreement with the government on wages.
RCN England director Patricia Marquis told Times Radio:
Talks between the NHS Ambulance Trust and union leaders continued on Monday to discuss which services in England and Wales would be protected from strike action.Health leaders want a broad and consistent approach across different sectors. I’m in
People familiar with the discussion said the idea was wrapped around answering all Category 1 calls (life-threatening emergencies), plus the most urgent Category 2 calls.
The second category includes suspected stroke or chest pain. Conditions that do not fall into these two categories include people with acute but uncomplicated diabetes and people who are not seriously ill but require hospital care.
Under an agreement made between South East Coast Ambulance Services and the GMB union, striking workers will be required to attend certain calls if others cannot cover them, according to a person briefed on the contract. You may be asked to respond.
These calls include going to help an elderly person who has been on the floor for four hours or more after a fall, or a stroke or heart accident that is important to treat.
In a letter sent to general practitioners on December 16, Northwest Emergency Services called for “confirmed cardiac arrest and imminent threat to life” and “confirmed obstetric emergencies” during the strike. said to support it.
“In all other circumstances,” patients requiring accident or emergency care should use taxis or travel on their own, he added. Did not respond.
Conservative MPs wondered how long the stalemate between the government and unions over NHS salaries would last.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the chaos in the NHS reached a feverish pitch and the government had to resign,” said one former minister.
