Workers at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are walking out as part of the latest strike over pay. The military have been drafted in to support the service during the action, which will take place on Monday and Tuesday (February 20 and 21).
EMAS said unlike previous strikes, demand on its services remained high across the last action on February 6 and 7. It said up to 20 armed forces personnel would be stepping in to help.
GMB and Unite union members will be taking part in the action. Ben Holdaway, director of operations at EMAS, said he expected the period to be "very challenging".
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"The implementation of military support has always been part of the NHS plans in case of increased and sustained pressure," he said. "They will not be used to respond to emergency 999 calls. Their role will be to drive vehicles in addition to the safe moving and handling of lower acuity patients and essential equipment.
"This will enable our emergency crews to focus on responding to life-threatening and very serious 999 calls. It is important that the public use services wisely and make their own way to a treatment centre or hospital if safe to do so; this allows us to send our ambulances with life-saving equipment and clinicians on board to people who really need them.”
EMAS said it was important that patients who still need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
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