Ambulance workers going on strike

[behappy1736]

Now I'm probably going to get flack for this but I just cannot get my head around why ambulance workers or any other medical professionals go on strike! I get it because of the pay rise and they are trying to make a point and strike to get a rise etc, but how can they do this when they know their actions will have consequences for people if they all strike?
It worries me that you will not be able to get an ambulance if needed for your family or children and I just don't understand how they can do this when their jobs are putting people first this kind of action is the complete opposite of that.

"I just don't understand how they can do this when their jobs are putting people first this kind of action is the complete opposite of that."

Could you perhaps tell us about action you have taken that could prevent the strikes?

It's all very well complaining about the strikes but if you understand the reasons behind the strikes you'd either support them, or do something about it so the strikes don't need to happen.

As a country we need to stand up and speak up for our NHS. That's IF we want to keep it safe.

I have no horse in this race, but the strike NEEDS to happen.
The conditions are absolutely appalling, and the pay not much better.

The biggest shock will be how little changes when Labour get in at the next election - I’m not a Tory, but anyone thinking Labour have the tools or money to fix this are mistaken.

It feels like there is no fix; the Government don’t have the resources to change things after pissing away billions on Covid and Brexit.
I can’t wait for the big red Brexit bus that promised 350 million quid a week for the NHS to finally arrive, but I’m starting to think it was all a lie… (shock horror)

I work for an ambulance Trust; Management have met with the Union to ensure minimum patient disruption whilst still getting their point across (derogations etc) so the maximum staff striking will be 25% and not from any areas that deal with C1 or C2 calls. They are striking as staff are leaving the profession and it's hard to replace them which is down to the pay, abuse they suffer, and long shifts. I am not striking myself as I am on leave this week but to stop people leaving this action is necessary.

Hell yes to the problems recruiting. DH one of the most senior paramedics in the trust and prescriber trained is about to go part time. Another senior paramedic,same station has stepped down to become an ambulance cleaner, and countless have stepped down to become technicians. Why would anyone want a bloody hideous job, with enormous responsibility at all, let alone for the very unattractive salary? These people are getting properly mentally unwell with the stress of it. The only people they can recruit are the new paramedic graduates straight from university, who to be blunt are not going to be very good at the job for a long time. But they won't last a long time as hardly any stick around for more that a few years.

but how can they do this when they know their actions will have consequences for people if they all strike?

how can they not do this when they know the state their service is in and more people will die unnecessarily if they don't take action. What are you going to do if you ring for an ambulance in 12 months time to be told its a 2 day wait as lack of staff mens there are no drivers?

One weirdity in recruitment is that former military MedTechs aren't considered qualified. If there was a 'top up' route for them (and others with relevant experience) then they might get more coming through that way

Presumably it's going to be those MedTechs who will be used during the strike, when they say they're going to use the Army?

(apologies in advance if there is a top up route - I realised I might have missed something!)

I thought they were also striking because of concerns k er Katie t safety, not just pay and conditions?

Urghh over patient safety

Military medics are highly trained in trauma, battlefield trauma and can give medications and treatments to a high standard for this purpose. Because of the exposure they get they do not have the same experience in medical conditions such as heart failure, COPD, abdominal emergencies, children, elderly etc.

There is also many companies offering "tech" qualifications, and there education varies greatly. So most ambulance services provide there own in house training or with local universities to make sure the technicians are to the standard they require. Technicians are also paid while they train if they go via the nhs.

There are a lot of ex military medics in the ambulance service, and they do really well. The military also have in there resettlement standard learning credits and enhanced learning credits which can be used towards a paramedic degree if they want to go to the next level of education.