Ambulance strikes 2023: are strikes happening in March, have they been called off?

Ambulance worker strikes in England have been called off by the Unite union.

On Monday (6 Match), union members at ambulance trusts in the West Midlands, North West, South Central, South Coastal, and East Midlands had planned to strike. However, the Unite union paused the strike action on Sunday afternoon in order to enter pay talks with the Government.

Unite head of operations Gail Cartmail said: “Following further assurances from the Government over the weekend, Unite has in good faith agreed to pause the strike action. If the meeting doesn’t meet these assurances strike action will resume.”

The union said the assurances relate to confirmation that any deal will include new money, rather than placing further pressure on NHS budgets and an indication discussions will not impact the conditions on health staff.

Talks are expected early this week.

It comes after Unison and GMB unions cancelled industrial action which would have involved tens of thousands of key workers.

The walkout, involving more than 10,000 members of staff, was due to take place on Monday 6 March and Wednesday 8 March. However, the GMB and Unison unions have called it off, with union bosses stating that the decision from the government marks a “huge shift” in its position on the matter.

GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said: “GMB ambulance workers announced a tightening of the derogations for cover on strike days. Less than 24 hours later we received a letter from the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay, inviting us and other unions to pay talks.

“This is a huge shift from the Government, who for months have refused to consider negotiations on pay. Now they are saying they are willing to sit down and talk. The Government has given assurances of additional cash for both years above existing budgets and that any deal will respect the existing Agenda for Change structure.

“GMB’s ambulance workers have agreed to suspend industrial action so talks can begin – however the strike will return with a vengeance should talks break down.”

Unison’s Sara Gorton echoed Ms Harrison’s words, saying: “Whether the talks signal the beginning of the end of the current dispute will emerge in the coming days. If a deal can be reached, strikes can end and everyone can work together again to ensure the NHS gets back on track.

“However, when we get in the room, we’ll quickly learn whether the talks can be meaningful. If not, Unison will be forced to resume strike action. Nobody wants that.”

While GMB and Unison have suspended next week’s ambulance strikes, there are still strikes ongoing. Ambulance staff at Unite the Union are set to strike on various days until 20 March.

The 6 February strike was the biggest walkout in NHS history, with nurses also striking. The industrial action will include paramedics, call handlers, drivers and technicians - a step up from the December walkouts.

NHS chiefs have assured patients that walkouts will not stop ambulance staff from responding to life or death emergencies, however category 2 incidents, such as strokes and heart attacks, will be assessed before response.

Speaking previously, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Rather than act to protect the NHS and negotiate an end to the dispute, the government has disgracefully chosen to demonise ambulance workers. Ministers are deliberately misleading the public about the life and limb cover and who is to blame for excessive deaths. Our members faithfully provide life and limb cover on strike days and it’s not the unions who are not providing minimum service levels.

“It’s this government’s disastrous handling of the NHS that has brought it to breaking point, and as crisis piles on crisis, the prime minister is seen to be washing his hands of the dispute. What a disgrace. What an abdication of leadership.”

Health Secretary Steve Barclay previously warned there would “inevitably” be disruption - with ambulance delays and longer wait times for 999 and 111 calls both expected. There are also warnings that some people may be asked to make their own way to hospital.

It comes after Rishi Sunak and ministers held crunch talks with rail, health and education unions last week in an attempt to prevent more industrial action, with the health service in the midst of a crisis not seen for years.

Ambulance strike dates

Monday 6 March

Unite workers striking:

• West Midlands Ambulance Trust
• North East Ambulance Trust
• North West Ambulance Trust
• East Midlands Ambulance Trust
• Wales Ambulance Trust

Monday 20 March

Unite workers striking:

• West Midlands Ambulance Trust
• North East Ambulance Trust
• North West Ambulance Trust
• East Midlands Ambulance Trust
• Wales Ambulance Trust

What should I do if I need an ambulance?

NHS England has advised patients to continue to call 999 for life-threatening emergencies but has urged patients to use 111, GPs and pharmacies for non-urgent needs.

Some patients may be asked to find their own transport to hospital, but NHS England said people should still seek advi,ce from 111 or 999 before doing so.

What calls will ambulance workers respond to?

North West Ambulance Service told staff that only category 1 999 callouts, will be exempt from industrial action by GMB members. There will be no exemptions for emergency calls such as suspected heart attacks and strokes, defined as category 2, i News reports.

Category 1 incidents include immediately life threatening condition, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest. Workers will not respond to category 2 callouts, which include serious conditions like stroke or chest pain, category 3 calls, which include abdominal pains, or category 4 calls, which cover issues like diarrhoea, vomiting and back pain.

Why are ambulance workers striking?

Ms Gorton previously said: “The government will only have itself to blame if there are strikes in the NHS. Ambulance staff and their health colleagues don’t want to inconvenience anyone but ministers are refusing to do the one thing that could prevent disruption – that’s start genuine talks about pay.

“Wages are too low to stop health workers quitting the NHS. As more and more hand in their notice, there are fewer staff left to care for patients. The public knows that’s the reason behind lengthy waits at A&E, growing ambulances delays, postponed operations and cancelled clinics.”