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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Loose Women's Denise Welch brands NHS a 'disaster' amid paramedics strike

Loose Women's Denise Welch branded the health service a 'disaster' amid the paramedics strike.

The public have been told to take extra care after thousands of ambulance workers, including paramedics and call handlers joined the picket line.

Amid the protests, concerns have been raised for the elderly, who may be waiting hours for an ambulance.

Denise, 64, who has an elderly mother-in-law said she was outraged by the situation.

Speaking to host Jane Moore on the show today, she said: "They're not just striking about pay, they're terrified about being able to give patient care.

"This time of year is always tricky with the NHS for all sorts of reasons, particularly with strike action - which I 100% support.

"If my mum-in-law had a fall it would be a disaster so we've said to her, 'When you're not with us be more careful because it will be much more difficult if you suddenly have an emergency'".

Loose Women's Denise Welch branded the health service a 'disaster' amid the paramedics strike (ITV)

She continued: "I feel so sorry for them that it's come to this, but it just seems under any government.... If I hear Grant Shapps or Steve Barclay one more time saying: 'We've pumped £6m in...' It's not going to the right places. The health service is a disaster."

Jane agreed saying: "There's a lot of support out there for the strikes. It's not about party politics."

Meanwhile, Dame Kelly Holmes said she felt "so sorry" for all the workers being forced into striking.

Panellist Katie Piper pointed out that whatever fear the public had about not being able to get ambulance was nothing compared to how the paramedics must feel dealing with "unsafe conditions" in the workplace.

The panel are not afraid to tackle tough subjects and clashed on Monday's show discussing Jeremy Clarkson's vile comments about Meghan Markle.

Janet Street-Porter said while she was repulsed by the statement, in which the presenter said he dreamt of people throwing excrement at the Duchess, she didn't think it was 'hate speech'.

Ambulance workers, paramedic staff and call handlers have taken industrial strike action, (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Telling the audience we need free speech in the country, she said: "It seems like we've moved on to cancelling", adding: "two or three hundred years ago there were cartoons of the king with his head down the toilet or with his bits hanging out."

But panellist Brenda Edwards was livid.

She said Jeremy's comments absolutely warranted hate speech, saying his suggestion to throw excrement at the Duchess "incited hate.

"It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman, she said. "It's horrible. All she [Meghan] did was fall in love."

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