Ambulance staff across the North East have staged a third day of strike action in an ongoing row over pay and staffing.

Paramedics, 999 call handlers and emergency care assistants were among those on picket lines across the North East for the third day of industrial action on Monday (January 23).

Workers from the Unison, GMB and Unite unions worked out as ambulance bosses urged the public to only dial 999 for an ambulance for life-threatening conditions or injuries.

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The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) admitted that it would not be able to respond to all calls of a serious nature, and that significant delays can be expected.

Speaking to the Northern Echo from the picket line in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, Miles Elliott, Regional Organiser with Unison and ambulance lead in the North East, said: “Ambulance workers in Coulby Newham and across the country are taking strike action today reluctantly to be honest, it’s a very difficult decision to go on strike.

“Every ambulance trust in the country has paramedic vacancies.

The Northern Echo: Miles Elliott from Unison on the picket line in Chester-Le-Street earlier this month.Miles Elliott from Unison on the picket line in Chester-Le-Street earlier this month. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Pay in the NHS has been eroded for many years now and what that means for health trusts is they can’t recruit the staff they need to fill the vacancies that they have and they can’t retain the staff that are so central to the NHS running smoothly – they’re leaving for better pay and less stressful jobs.

“This is going to be resolved by the government getting around the table to address the issues we are raising awareness of today

“We will be taking action until the government negotiate with us.”

Picket lines were also formed across the region including in Gateshead, Ashington, Newcastle and Chester-Le-Street as the number of staff walking out increased.

Striking paramedics have previously told The Northern Echo of fellow staff quitting for supermarket jobs and colleagues spending 12 hours waiting with patients in queues at hospital.

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Pressed on whether he would have to sit down and negotiate with unions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told ITV News: “Taking a step back, of course it would be lovely to be able to wave a magic wand and just give everyone what they were demanding when it came to pay.

The Northern Echo: Striking ambulance staff in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough.Striking ambulance staff in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“But my job as Prime Minister is to make the right decisions for the country, and they are, more often than not, not easy decisions.

“But that’s my job, and that’s what I will always do in this job, and… when you think about this, how would we pay for these things? Where’s the money going to come from?

“Actually, it’s probably going to have to come from elsewhere in the NHS budget, and that means fewer nurses, fewer doctors, fewer MRI scanners and CT scanners that are diagnosing people with cancer or indeed fewer mental health ambulances that we’re announcing today that are going to save people from going to A&E.

“My job is to balance all of those things and do what I believe is right for the country. And that’s what we’re doing.

“I need to do, and the government needs to do, what is right for the country long term.”

More strike dates were announced last week, with workers at the GMB union voting to walkout on four days in February and March.

The industrial action will take place on February 6, February 20, March 6 and March 20.

Unison is yet to announce dates for further action.

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