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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ambulance strike is disgraceful?

1000 replies

somethingdifferenttoday · 21/12/2022 08:20

I just read this on bbc news, "Unions say life-threatening callouts will continue to be responded to over the next 24 hours but some urgent calls, for example for late-stage labour or a fall in the home, might not be answered."

Is it just me who thinks this is disgraceful?

Late stage labour at home or an elderly person laying with a broken hip ARE emergencies! I'm not sure how people in a caring profession can strike knowing these calls will go unanswered.

The unions talk about the backlog, paramedics stuck outside hospitals in ambulances unable to unload and go back out on the road but then admit they are striking for more pay rather than as a protest about that. The average salary of ambulance staff of £47,000 and a 4% pay rise isn't enough they claim but if they are given a pay rise, they will stop striking.

I think they do deserve more money (we all do with inflation) but I can't get past them supposedly being in a caring profession but taking steps that WILL cause extra deaths regardless.

I work in the private sector and have had zero pay rise. If I went on strike nobody would die and I'd be fired. This approach is abusing the critical position of their roles. I hope they are not given a pay rise as it will just demonstrate that blackmail works to other public sector workers and we will have even more strikes.

YABU = I support them striking
YANBU = I agree, it's disgraceful behaviour from a caring profession

OP posts:
helford · 21/12/2022 10:09

CornishGem1975 · 21/12/2022 10:05

Rightly or wrongly, if my child died because of a strike, I can categorically say I would not be blaming the government, I doubt it would even enter my mind. I would absolutely be blaming the service and the people that failed them. I don't care if that makes me unreasonable. I know that's exactly how I would feel, and I think a lot of people would feel the same.

So who would you blame a month ago?

Deaths are happening pre strike and will continue to happen post strikes.

angstridden2 · 21/12/2022 10:10

The whole infrastructure of this country is a victim of government failure to plan ahead. The NHS hasn’t suddenly become overstretched, it’s been going there for years exacerbated by the social care problems in an aging society. Some improvement would come by large amounts of extra funding and the opening (or reopening) of more Minor Injuries units and OOH, alongside convalescent units for want of a better description. However any government who runs a campaign on raising taxes, even a hypothecated tax specifically for health, would get annihilated.

Holly60 · 21/12/2022 10:10

You are right, those who don't want to work in terrible conditions for a pittance should just vote with their feet and leave....

Then the ambulances can just get on with driving themselves of course.

YABU

WatchoRulo · 21/12/2022 10:10

Hawkins001 · 21/12/2022 08:29

I can understand the different perspectives, but overall is it really the best course of action to have eg, hospital workers, striking ?

Unfortunately this government is too busy stuffing their pockets and those of their mates to listen to ordinary people so the strikes are the only option.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:10

Bluelightbaby · 21/12/2022 10:08

Recently we’ve been in such high demand that those level of calls haven’t been attended to anyway without the strikes !!!!! We are broken, the system is broken. Something has to change

Oh thats okay then, the solution to that is to answer no calls at all!!

Fantastic solution.

user18596463 · 21/12/2022 10:10

Bluelightbaby · 21/12/2022 10:08

Recently we’ve been in such high demand that those level of calls haven’t been attended to anyway without the strikes !!!!! We are broken, the system is broken. Something has to change

There should be a charge but no one on this left wing website wants that

Prinnny · 21/12/2022 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

helford · 21/12/2022 10:11

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:09

Let me be very clear with you.

There is no reason on earth why the strike had to include CAT 2 calls.
You know this is extremely dangerous and totally unnecessary. Whether the ambulance service is struggling or not - the fact that no calls will be answered is unforgivable and only adding to the problems. You don't IMPROVE anything by making things a million times worse.

The week before Christmas - totally premeditated designed and timed to cause the most harm to patients. It is a renowned for being the most difficult time of the year in the NHS and the unions decided that would be a perfect moment to execute their grim and misdirected plan.

The ethics, or lack of, are plain for the whole world to see, the kind of people that run the unions, and the kind of people that are supposed to care for the sick, dying and injured.

I am sorry to say I think there is going to be some serious regret about the union's decision and those that followed them like sheep when the loss and deaths that were entirely avoidable start mounting.

Show quote history

Cat 2 calls aren't being answered now, pre strike.

orchid220 · 21/12/2022 10:12

Alexandra2001 · 21/12/2022 10:07

I think that the reality of the NHS is somewhat different from the university course.

My DD had a family member of a patient screaming in her face yesterday... a colleague is off sick after being punched in the face.

However.. they are taking your advice once there and are leaving.... so you get your wish!

Show quote history

Yes, and conditions have got much worse since the Tories were in power so the job for experienced health care professionals is not the same as it used to be.

PurpleFlower1983 · 21/12/2022 10:12

I support their right to strike completely but I’m anxious about my 92 year old grandmother who is quite ill at the moment. It must be bad for them to feel the need to strike though!

Stompythedinosaur · 21/12/2022 10:13

Livelovebehappy · 21/12/2022 10:02

YANBU. It’s like going into a restaurant, paying £30 for a steak, then complaining afterwards. Don’t like the pay and conditions when you apply for a job? Then choose another career.

When I joined my healthcare role 16 years ago I wasn't anticipating a 20% paycut in real terms.

But sure, I can leave. Huge numbers of staff are. You realise that is the problem?

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:13

helford · 21/12/2022 10:11

Cat 2 calls aren't being answered now, pre strike.

Show quote history

Fuck I so am tired of the argument that because the situation is bad, it’s alright to completely destroy it. No, it’s not alright. It’s not justified. The priority should be to save as many lives as possible always, not make a bad situation worse causing yet more lives lost.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You would love that wouldn't you.

So you could continue to brain wash the public that you are doing this for THEM??

The lies and deceit are astounding.

You are doing this for your own financial benefit, pure and simple, the least you can do is own it.

Murdoch1949 · 21/12/2022 10:14

YABU

Inkpotlover · 21/12/2022 10:14

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:07

Victim-blaming. How can even write that most people dying today due to a heart attack and no ambulance brought it on themselves due to lifestyle? How fucking dare you say that it’s the publics fault for needing ambulances!

Spoken like a privileged person blessed with good health and luck.

Show quote history

You can swear all you want, but it's a medically proven fact that poor lifestyle choices liking smoking and drinking are triggers for heart attacks.

And actually I am fat and unhealthy, so go figure.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:14

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:13

Fuck I so am tired of the argument that because the situation is bad, it’s alright to completely destroy it. No, it’s not alright. It’s not justified. The priority should be to save as many lives as possible always, not make a bad situation worse causing yet more lives lost.

Show quote history

Yes quite, you don't help an injured dog by kicking it as hard as you can, and offering to stop if someone pays you a top up of 19%

TooBored1 · 21/12/2022 10:14

YABU. Most of the issue with ambulance wait times round here (apart from general Tory gov) is their inability to actually drop the patient off when they get to A&E. The hospitals / ED are so crowded that the patients arriving by ambulance can't get into the hospital, so they have to stay in in the parked up ambulance outside the hospital.

Alexandra2001 · 21/12/2022 10:14

user18596463 · 21/12/2022 10:10

There should be a charge but no one on this left wing website wants that

Show quote history

I would be described as "left wing" on here and in RL.

... i fully support and have argued for charges..... its what almost all EU countries do (subject to suitable exemptions)

GP, Ambulance and Consultant ...... i'd also increase the free prescription charges to retirement age and not for pensioners paying income tax.

FestiveCovid · 21/12/2022 10:14

I’m aware I’m adding a post to a 20 page thread without reading it all, but I would just like to point out that when I was in late labour 6 months ago and we rang 999, nobody even answered the phone. That wasn’t because of strikes, that was because there was nobody to answer the phone!

The stretched public sector cannot continue like this, and if strikes are what helps to draw attention to this and improve something then so be it.

Dotjones · 21/12/2022 10:14

YANBU. I don't understand the claim that they don't want to strike and it's the government who've forced them to. They voted to strike. They are striking. They know that people will be harmed and will probably die because of this. They don't care.

lbnblbnb · 21/12/2022 10:15

The idea that anyone goes into healthcare for financial benefit is hilarious.

Come on, you are being ironic, aren't you?!?

Yougov poll shows 66% support for strike.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/12/20/nurses-and-ambulance-workers-have-most-public-supp

pompomdaisy · 21/12/2022 10:15

@Dotjones you are an simplistic idiot!

helford · 21/12/2022 10:16

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:14

Yes quite, you don't help an injured dog by kicking it as hard as you can, and offering to stop if someone pays you a top up of 19%

Show quote history

Stop with your lies.

RCN etc will call off strikes if Govt will discuss pay, with no pre conditions on the amount.

Or are you Steve Barclay.

User434356 · 21/12/2022 10:16

The whole membership of MN votes Labour @somethingdifferenttoday

FWIW I agree with you 100%.

It's all political.

Striking is antiquated in 2022.

This is a joint effort by the unions to try to bring down the government, co ordinated by Lynch and his gang of Marxists. They are all jumping on the bandwagon.

The NHS needs dismantling and starting from scratch.

Prinnny · 21/12/2022 10:17

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:13

You would love that wouldn't you.

So you could continue to brain wash the public that you are doing this for THEM??

The lies and deceit are astounding.

You are doing this for your own financial benefit, pure and simple, the least you can do is own it.

Show quote history

What are you talking about 😂 I’m not a paramedic 😂😂

Sorry to destroy the narrative you’re trying to create that the ‘public’ don’t support the paramedics, you’re pathetic 😂😂😂

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