Soldiers called up to drive ambulances

Troops have been ordered to drive ambulances when public sector workers go on strike tomorrow.

Ambulance drivers are among the NHS staff across England joining a four-hour walkout amid a bitter pay row.

Military drivers are having to step into the breach to ensure those in need of emergency assistance have the service readily available.

Support services across the North West and London will be affected by the staged walkout.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “We can confirm we are providing support to the Department of Health during the industrial action by some trade unions.

“This assistance involves the provision of military drivers to support the London and the North West Ambulance Services.”

Injured people, women in labour and victims of road accidents have been warned they may have to make their own way to hospital when the strike kicks in at 7am.

However, ambulance chiefs predict the action, part of an NHS-wide protest, will have a knock-on effect throughout the whole day.

Bob Parkinson, branch secretary for Unite at the North West Ambulance Service insisted this fresh round of strikes have been instigated by an unwillingness by the NHS to protect their staff.

He said: “We are sorry we have been forced into this situation. We are not, by nature, a militant workforce and the staff are saddened to have to take this action. But year-on-year we have faced pay freezes and constant attacks on the NHS, and we feel it is now time to voice our objections.

“We urge the Health Minister to intervene for the sake of patients and staff to resolve this issue.”

London Ambulance Service director of operations Jason Killens said a “significant number” of staff were expected to strike.

He said: “We have plans to ensure we get to the most seriously ill and injured patients as quickly as possible.

“These include all clinical managers working on the frontline and increased use of private ambulance crews.

“However, people who need an ambulance but whose life is not in danger should expect to wait longer, or may not get one at all.”

The public have been warned to call 999 only in a “real emergency”. Medics will be in control rooms to assess the condition of callers before deciding what action is required.

Emergency response teams in Yorkshire took industrial action earlier this year.

The protests, by Unite the Union members, were part of a 24-hour strike from the county’s ambulance service, brought about after workers raged about the introduction of new emergency care assistant roles and changes to shift patterns.