[Politics] Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers

[BirSaNN]

Ministers and unions have clashed over who would be to blame for preventable deaths during ambulance strikes.

Unite boss Sharon Graham accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of telling "a blatant lie" when he said ambulance unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients".

Mr Barclay blamed unions for striking when the NHS was under significant pressure.

But the unions said he was at fault for refusing to negotiate on pay.

Paramedics, control room staff and support workers, who are members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions, are striking across much of England and Wales on Wednesday.

Follow the latest ambulance strike developments live
What calls will ambulances answer on strike day?
Why are nurses and ambulance staff striking?
Unions representing ambulance workers want pay increases to keep up with the rising cost of living. They have not set a specific figure but argue any offer needs to be high enough to prevent a recruitment crisis.

However, ministers say they will not negotiate on pay as they have met independent pay recommendations.

'Utterly shocked'
NHS bosses are warning patient safety cannot be guaranteed during the strike action, although unions say life-threatening callouts will still be responded to by an ambulance.

They also argue patients are already being put at risk due to waiting times, made worse by staff shortages.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Barclay accused ambulance unions of choosing to harm patients and making contingency planning more difficult.

He said unions had refused to work with the government at a national level on how they would cover emergency calls during strike action.

Unison said it was "utterly shocked" by the comments, while the GMB union said they were "insulting".

Mr Barclay later told BBC Breakfast ambulance unions had chosen to strike at a time "when the system is already facing very significant pressure" from increased flu and Covid admissions.

Asked who would be responsible for any preventable deaths during the industrial action, he said: "It is the trade unions who are taking this action at a point of maximum pressure for the NHS."

But unions rejected Mr Barclay's claims.

Ms Graham said: "The unions have negotiated critical cover, including 999 calls, at a local level with hosts of NHS Trusts.

"Steve Barclay obviously doesn't understand how these issues are dealt with in the NHS.

"That is an embarrassment for him and the government. He has now lost all credibility. Clearly he isn't the man for the job."

Christina McAnea, head of Unison, said the health secretary had "never specifically asked Unison for a national contingency agreement" and had acknowledged local unions had negotiated "detailed, appropriate plans for their areas".

She has previously said any deaths during the strikes would "absolutely" be the fault of the government for refusing to open negotiations.

link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64050277