Union slams ‘reckless’ demands on ambulance service during junior doctor strikes

Ambulance service workers already face 'unprecedented demands on their time', Rehana Azam, NHS officer of the GMB, says

Demonstrators hold placards including one that reads 'Hunt must go', referring to British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, during a protest by striking junior doctors outside the Department of Health in central London (Getty Images)

Asking the ambulance service to run temporary treatment centres during next week’s junior doctors’ strike is “reckless”, a senior union officer has said.

After NHS England said ambulance trusts may be required to step in during the first full walk-out in the history of the health service, Rehana Azam, NHS officer of the GMB union, warned “not to overstretch an ambulance service that is already overstretched".

More than 125,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled due to the strike, which is planned to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Junior doctors are taking industrial action over a controversial new contract that demands more weekend working.

Unlike in previous strikes, the thousands of striking junior doctors will not provide emergency care.

Ms Azam said: “GMB members in the ambulance service have faced unprecedented demands on their time.

“Responding to emergencies, transferring patients to hospitals is increasingly becoming a challenge as the number of 999 calls continue to increase.

NHS England said the health service was “pulling out all the stops” to minimise the risks during the walk-outs, and has told hospitals they must focus on “essential services” such as A&E, maternity, resuscitation, and mental health crisis intervention.

(Peter Byrne / Press Association (Peter Byrne / Press Association)

Patients have been told to expect delays in what NHS England has called a time of “heightened risk”.

Ms Azam said: “The GMB asks the Prime Minister to urgently get round the table to resolve the junior doctors dispute that his Secretary of State for Health created."

She added that the government had "underfunded and fragmented" the NHS.

A record nine million emergency calls were made to 999 last year, an increase of six per cent from the previous year, according to a performance report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Dr Anne Rainsberry, national incident director for NHS England, said the strike was an “unprecedented situation”.

As well as extra support being asked for from ambulance trusts, GPs have increased the number of available appointments and the non-emergency NHS 111 number will be running at an increased capacity.

Earlier this week, the BMA said it would call off the forthcoming strike if Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt lifted his threat to impose the contract on junior doctors. But Mr Hunt said it was not possible to “change or delay” its introduction.

More than 2,500 consultants, GPs and senior doctors have signed a letter to David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt in support of the striking junior doctors.