Following a meeting of GMB National Ambulance Committee Members on Thursday 23rd December, it has been decided to suspend the planned strike action on Wednesday 28th December 2022.
We were overwhelmed by the amazing public support we have received for all our ambulance and NHS members. It was so emotional for so many and it’s clear we are standing side by side with each other. The public are deeply worried about our NHS – and we are too.
People across the country have been incredible in backing you 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.
But, 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 NHS is on its knees. It can’t go on like this. 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. As GMB revealed, NHS England’s own figures confirm deaths after transfer delays have more than doubled in the last year.
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.