were waiting to unload patients because there was no space inside the hospital to treat them. that same problem has driven up response times across the country, with most of the services in england declaring critical incidents this week. both the government and some managers in the health service are concerned the strikes could increase the risk to patients. ambulance unions say the most serious, life threatening callouts should not be affected. they should go ahead as usual. but other services are very likely to see some disruption. the impact will vary by region. the most serious categoryi calls, such as someone not breathing or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as should some category 2 calls like strokes or serious burns. but other urgent problems like a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home might not be answered. this is going to be quite a difficult period. and there may be some delays to people but we ll make sure
or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as may some category two calls like strokes and serious burns. but other urgent problems, like a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home, might not be answered or be delayed. the government has accused unions of making a conscious decision to inflict harm on patients. the three unions striking today have refused to work with us at a national level. they ve insisted on only having local arrangements in terms of the coverage of life threatening and emergency calls. there is further uncertainty on the day because some of the emergency calls, whether they respond or not will be decided on the day in the call centres by members. unions reacted furiously to suggestions they are deliberately causing harm. every time the health secretary speaks, my head is in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. we have negotiated
fair pay! when do we want it? now! paramedics early this morning on the picket line coventry. staff said the dispute is about pay and also patient safety. you can spend four, five hours in the back of an ambulance sometimes waiting to go into the hospital. often we can hear over the radio there is a cardiac arrest and people we cannot get to. i have worked here 11 years and never seen this before. it is really stressful. as a result people have chosen other employment to go to. we are losing staff. ambulances were still leaving to go to the most life threatening emergencies. most category one calls will be responded to, as may some category two calls like strokes and serious burns. other urgent problems like a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling on their home
but also patient safety. we can spend four, five hours in the back of an ambulance sometimes waiting to go into the hospital. often we can hear over the radio there is a cardiac arrest and people we cannot get to. i have worked here 24 years and never seen it like this before. and all the experienced staff are walking. you can t replace that overnight. it is really stressful. as a result people have chosen other employment to go to. we are losing staff. ambulances were still leaving today to go to the most life threatening emergencies. the situation will vary by region. most category one calls, such as someone not breathing or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as may some category two calls like strokes and serious burns. but other urgent problems, like a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home, might not be answered or be delayed. the government has accused unions of making a conscious decision
however, conditions which are serious but notjudged to be immediately life threatening which could include people who may be having a stroke may not be immediately attended to by emergency teams. problems that fit into category three, such as women in late stage labour, for example, will not be prioritised. to cover the walk outs come around 750 armed forces have been draughted and by the government to help in england. they are driving patients with less urgent conditions to and from hospital, but they are not being sent out on call outs involving critical care, norare sent out on call outs involving critical care, nor are they providing any clinical care. here is the uk s health secretary again. it is the trade union that is taking that strike is the trade union that is taking that strike action at a point of maximum that strike action at a point of maximum pressure for the nhs and in doing maximum pressure for the nhs and in doing so maximum pressure for the nhs and in doing s