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North West Ambulance Service explains who’ll be ‘prioritised’ as thousands strike across UK today

There'll be fewer ambulances on the road and fewer call handlers answering 999 calls.

Emily Sergeant - 20th February 2023

Thousands of ambulance workers across the UK are to walk out today in fresh strikes following the rejection of the latest pay offer by unions.

Widespread disruption is expected as more than 11,000 members of the both the GMB and Unite unions at seven of the 10 ambulance service trusts in England – including in the North West – are, once again, staging strike action for 24-hours today, which means fewer ambulances on the road and fewer call handlers answering 999 calls.

On top of this, ambulance dispatchers and drivers in our Patient Transport Service will also be going on strike today.

As there continues to be unrest in many industries and sectors of the economy nationwide, the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has issued a statement explaining which calls its services will be “prioritised” during the industrial action today.

“We need the public to only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies to ensure resources are available for the patients who really need us,” the NWAS said in its appeal.

“To be clear, ambulances will still be available, but they will be prioritised for those life and limb emergencies, so other patients will likely be asked to make their own way to hospital or advised where else to seek help.”

The NWAS has confirmed it will be supported by the military and by private and volunteer ambulance services during the strike action today.

In a bid to “ensure the safety of patients”, the NWAS has also said that senior clinicians will be based in all its control rooms across the region to oversee incoming 999 calls and make decisions on responses based on clinical need.

“This is the ninth day we have faced some form of strike action in the service,” Ged Blezard from the NWAS said of today’s walkouts.

“So far, we have coped reasonably well. However, I understand there are only so many times that the public will listen to our messages, therefore it’s important to stress that one of the reasons we are able to get to people who need us on strike days is that we receive fewer calls, so it’s vital that the public continue to behave as they are.

“Please only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.”

Typical emergencies the NWAS says services will be prioritised for today include cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren’t stopping, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, allergic reactions, and serious head injuries.

If hospital treatment is required, the NWAS said patients should also consider taking alternative transport – such as a taxi, or getting a lift from family or friends.

Equally, they should use 111.nhs.uk their GP or local pharmacy for help with “non-urgent health concerns”.

Mr Blezard also stressed the importance that people don’t repeat-call 999 to “ask for updates on where your ambulance is”, adding that they should “only call us back if your condition has worsened or to cancel the ambulance as we need to keep lines free for other emergencies”.

“We are hoping for a resolution to the dispute, but ultimately, this is a matter for the government and trade unions to settle,” he concluded.

Read more:

• Public urged to only call 999 for ‘life-threatening emergencies’ during ambulance strikes
• Tributes paid to ‘incredibly loved’ North West paramedic who died suddenly
• Tens of thousands of walk out in the largest nursing strike in NHS history

More support is available on the NWAS website during today’s strikes.

Featured Image – NWAS