Ambulance bosses have urged the public only to dial 999 for ‘life-threatening’ conditions or injuries as workers prepare to walk out.

Lifesaving ambulance staff including paramedics and call handlers across the North East will walk out in a national row over pay.

Workers at the GMB, Unite and Unison unions will all walk out on Wednesday (December 21) as North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) bosses urge the public to use the service ‘wisely’ during the industrial action.

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Ambulance chiefs have admitted the service ‘will not be able to respond to all calls of a serious nature’ and that ‘significant delays’ are likely as contingency plans have been put in place.

Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer at NEAS, said: “Our priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our patients and staff. We have planned with great care for this strike, but our services will be extremely busy and we do expect them to be severely disrupted.

“We also anticipate that the days after the strike will be busy and as we head into an extended bank holiday over Christmas, we want to encourage people to use services wisely and prepare where possible.

“Ambulances will still be able to respond during the strike, but this will only be where there is an immediate risk to life.

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“This means that less serious calls will not receive a response for the duration of the strike action and some patients might be asked to make their own way to hospital, where it is safe for them to do so.

“Patients waiting for an ambulance should only call back if your symptoms worsen so that our health advisors are available to take new emergency calls or to cancel an ambulance if alternative transport has been arranged.”

It comes as nurses take part in a second day of strike action at some North East hospitals north of the Tyne on Tuesday (December 20) in a row over pay and conditions.

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