In the North West Ambulance Service region, the GMB, Unison and Unite unions balloted their members for industrial action and met the legal threshold to take action. They have now issued a formal notice for strike action for the following periods:
- 21 December, 00.01 to 23.59 – GMB, Unite and Unison (12.00-00.00 only)
- 28 December, 00.01 to 23.59 – GMB (POSTPONED)
- 11 January – GMB – 00.01 to 23.59 and Unison – 0700 -1900
- 18 January – Royal College of Nursing*
- 19 January – Royal College of Nursing*
- 23 January – Unison – 1100-2300 and Unite – 00.01 to 23.59
- 24 January – GMB – 00.01 to 23.59
- 6 February – GMB – 00.01 to 23.59, Unite – 0700 -1900 and Royal College of Nurses (daytime shifts)
- 7 February – RCN (daytime shifts)
- 9 February – Chartered Society of Physiotherapy*
- 10 February – Unison
*These strikes do not directly impact NWAS but will affect several hospitals in the North West which impacts performance.
Following the announcement of industrial action, we have worked closely with our unions and staff to ensure that we are able to continue to deliver a response to the most serious emergencies for our patients and to agree an approach for the days when industrial actions is taking place.
This has focused on consideration to support colleagues’ right to take action in collaboration with potential impacts on patient care. The priority throughout has been balancing patient safety with the right to strike.
On the day of action, despite utilising some resources from external sources, the trust will be operating with reduced capacity. As much as we can, we will prioritise those with life-threatening conditions but it is important to acknowledge that ambulance waits are to be expected. Those with less serious conditions are likely to be asked to seek alternatives.
The assistance of the public is vital so for illness or injury which is not life-threatening, people should seek help and advice from their own GP, a pharmacist, or via NHS 111 Online at 111.nhs.uk or find other means of transport to an emergency care centre.
Further information is available to the public here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/information-for-the-public-on-industrial-action/ and we will continue to publish further advice here.
On the day of action, despite utilising some resources from external sources, the trust will be operating with reduced capacity. As much as we can, we will prioritise those with life-threatening conditions but it is important to acknowledge that ambulance waits are to be expected. Those with less serious conditions are likely to be asked to seek alternatives.
The NHS.UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.
As much as we can, we will prioritise those with life-threatening conditions but it is important to acknowledge that ambulance waits are to be expected. Those with less serious conditions are likely to be asked to seek alternatives.
The assistance of the public is vital so for illness or injury which is not life-threatening, people should seek help and advice from their own GP, a pharmacist, or via NHS 111 Online at 111.nhs.uk or find other means of transport to an emergency care centre.
The online service works the same as the over the phone service, and could allow you to get information quicker. This can include getting a call back from a trained clinician or nurse, booking them an appointment in A&E, or providing advice.
Parents concerned about children under 5 years old, should continue to use the phone service.
If your call is not urgent, please go to the NHS 111 for help and advice.
111.nhs.uk can help you with:
- Where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do
- How to find general health information and advice
- Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
- How to get a repeat prescription
- Get emergency dental appointments
You’ll also find symptom checkers and a host of health information, as well as information on the current advice on Strep A, including when to seek medical help.
Our PTS service is also affected by strike action.
On the day of strike action our Patient Transport Service will only be available for patients attending cancer, renal and palliative care appointments.
Providers will be in touch to inform you if your appointment is being cancelled or to advise if you need to seek alternative transport.
Please only call 999 in a serious or life-threatening emergency to keep our precious resources for those who need us most.
If you’re ill or injured, consider alternatives to 999 like your GP, pharmacist, NHS 111, and stock up on prescription medications and over the counter remedies to reduce the risk of you falling ill on strike days. Please also take extra care during the cold spell to avoid slips, trips and falls, and accidents on the road.
We know this is a very disruptive time for everyone and we thank you all for your help and support as we work hard to maintain services for those most in need of our life-saving care.
If you have a mental health concern, please use the mental health crisis lines available in your area:
- Greater Manchester (Bolton, Manchester, Salford, Trafford & Wigan)- 0800 953 0285
- Greater Manchester (Bury, Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport and Tameside & Glossop – 0800 014 9995)
- Lancashire and Cumbria – 0800 953 0110
- North Cumbria 0800 652 2865
- Cheshire and Wirral – 0800 145 6485
- Merseyside (Sefton Liverpool)- 0800 145 6570
- St Helens, Knowsley, Warrington and Halton 0800 051 1508
Here’s a list of the hospitals were RCN are taking strike action in February. Staff from will also NWAS are also taking part in the strike. This will primarily affect our 111 call handling capacity.
Greater Manchester
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire and Cumbria
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Cheshire and Merseyside
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Found Trust
- St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Found Trust
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Found Trust
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
- The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
For more information on how this will affect the trusts above please visit their websites.
Military personnel will be supporting NHS staff in a variety of ways, including by driving ambulances. They will not be providing any medical support.
They will be primarily focused on lower category emergency calls, for example falls, but they could be sent to higher priority cases too. If deployed to an emergency, the trained clinician can drive to the scene on blue lights, with the military driver driving to hospital under normal traffic laws. This means they will be required to observe the speed limit and stop at red lights. If there is need to transport a patient to hospital under emergency blue light conditions, then the crew will request back up.