Industrial action by ambulance workers who walked out today over a national pay dispute is set to continue until the weekend.

NHS staff, including members of the ambulance service, went on strike between 7am and 11am, after accusing the Government of backtracking on an agreement to give them a one per cent pay rise.

But the disruption across Surrey and London is set to continue until the weekend with the ambulance services confirming that “action short of a strike” will continue until Sunday in Surrey and Friday in London.

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said more industrial action would continue until Sunday.

He said: "We will again be working closely with union representatives to minimise the impact of the action."

The London Ambulance Service said more action by its workers would take place until Friday, expected to include a reduction in the number of ambulance staff available to do overtime.

Jason Killens, director of operations, said: "During the strike action we will have paramedics and doctors in our control room who will carry out an enhanced assessment of patients to make sure we target our response to those who need us most."

London Ambulance, already under pressure over response times, had asked patients to prioritise their 999 calls this morning.

They said they were prioritising the most seriously ill and injured patients as quickly as possible with all clinical managers working on the front line, an increased number of private ambulance crews and support from other emergency services.

But Dr Clive Peedell, co-leader of the National Health Action Party, said: "We can’t run the NHS without suitable staff, we can’t improve the NHS without more staff, and we can’t recruit staff if pay keeps falling behind inflation and comparable jobs."

 

Wandsworth Times:
GMB Southern tweeted this picture of striking staff outside Croydon University Hospital

Outside Kingston Hospital NHS staff held a banner saying: "Midwives deliver".

Lee Godfrey, Labour parliamentary candidate for Kingston and Surbiton, said: "A one per cent pay rise isn't much to ask.

"NHS workers are subject to the same rise in living costs as everyone else."

Wandsworth Times:

Wandsworth Times:

Midwives had their umbrellas to hand to brave the rain and say “enough’s enough” outside Epsom Hospital this morning.

Epsom Hospital said all of its emergency services including A+E, were fully staffed.

In a statement it said mums to be should not be worried by the strike: "Our expert midwives will be on hand should labour begin."

 

 


Wandsworth Times:

Staff in the rain outside St George's Hospital

How are you coping with this morning's strike? Contact the newsdesk on 020 8722 6392 or email digitalmedia@london.newsquest.co.uk