Good Morning Britain's Dr Hilary Jones has issued advice over who should ring 999 during today's ambulance strike.
Thousands of ambulance workers, including those from the North East, went on strike on Wednesday in a dispute with the Government over pay. Paramedics, call handlers, drivers and technicians from the Unison and GMB unions are taking part in strikes across a 24-hour period, though paramedics will continue to attend the most serious calls.
On Wednesday morning, ITV Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley asked Dr Hilary who is "allowed" to call 999 today. The doctor replied: "It's very difficult for people to decide that for themselves, if you've got a life-threatening, life or limb, situation then your advice is to call 999 as usual.
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"Or, if you can't get through because call handlers will be on strike too, then you're meant to phone your GP or your pharmacist. This is unrealistic, your GP isn't going to be able to help you in an emergency, nor is a pharmacist."
Dr Hilary further added: "For people at home today, what they've got to decide is, is this something that means they cannot move? Or can they find a car to get them to hospital under their own steam, because it could take several hours to get an ambulance, even if you've had a stroke, even if you've had a heart attack."
The Health Secretary said people should use their "common sense" when it comes to what activities they do on Wednesday during the strikes. Steve Barclay, asked on Times Radio whether the public should change their behaviour to avoid ambulance call-outs, said: "We're saying to people to use their common sense. People can see that today is going to be a very challenged day for the ambulance service.
"The focus will be on those life-threatening incidents and ensuring those are addressed, but there will be strain on the rest of the system. So, we are just saying to people, use their common sense. Of course, if it is genuinely life threatening, then they should phone 999."
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