Ambulance staff overwhelmed by level of public backing, and we support them too, says GMB Union

Across the country, GMB members in the ambulance service were given incredible support by the public when taking industrial action on Wednesday 21st December.
 
The NHS is on its knees and the public are suffering every day because the government has failed to properly resource and plan for our health service. Nowhere is this clearer than in the appalling delays experienced in getting an ambulance and then getting into A&E.
 
Solving such problems starts with getting enough people to work in the NHS. Unless the government starts to talk pay now the problems will get worse with every passing day.
 
The consequences of the failure to protect the public are scary - one in three ambulance workers have seen a death due to delays [1].  As GMB revealed, NHS England’s own figures confirm deaths after transfer delays have more than doubled in the last year [2].
 
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary said:
 
“We are overwhelmed by Wednesday’s amazing public support for our paramedics and ambulance staff.
 
“People across the country have been wonderful in backing us and we care so much about them too. That’s why we are suspending the proposed GMB industrial action on the 28th December.
 
“We know the public will appreciate being able to enjoy Christmas without any additional anxiety. They support us and we support them.”
 
“The workforce crisis in our NHS is so severe and our commitment to getting ambulance staff the proper pay they deserve is stronger than ever, so we are scheduling a further date for action on 11th January 2023.
 
“The incredible British public are why we are suspending our action over the Christmas period. But, it also means the government can now do what ambulance workers and the public want – get round the table and talk pay now. We are here 24/7. Any time, any place.  
 
“Over to you Steve Barclay. Everyone is waiting.”
Notes to Editors:

ENDS

Media enquiries: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at [email protected]

Notes to Editors: 

[1] GMB, 35% of ambulance workers witnessed deaths due to delays, 27 July 2022 https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/35-ambulance-workers-witnessed-deaths-due-delays 

[2] The below figures were provided by NHS England on 16 December 2022 in response to a GMB Freedom of Information Act request.  

All ambulance access incidents reported by ambulance trusts as occurring under the ambulance service care setting by degree of harm and financial year, reported to the NRLS between 01 April 2017 and 31 March 2022  

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The National Reporting and Learning System is a central database of patient safety incident reports. Reporting by NHS Trusts is voluntary.  

For more information (including the definitions of degrees of harm), see: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NRLS_Degree_of_harm_FAQs_-_final_v1.1.pdf