LONDON听–听Thousands of听补尘产耻濒补苍肠别听workers in England and Wales will strike听辞惫别谤听辫补测听on Wednesday, increasing the strain on a state-funded health service a day after听苍耻谤蝉别蝉听walked out, with hospital bosses saying the action would put patients at risk.
The government said the “deeply regrettable” strike would result in fewer听补尘产耻濒补苍肠别s on the road.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said the National Health Service (NHS) would prioritize those with life-threatening needs.
“My message to the public is to take extra care tomorrow and plan your activity accordingly,” he said. “You may also want to check up on more vulnerable friends, family and neighbors.”
The GMB Union has said聽辫补测听in the health service has fallen 17% in real terms since 2010, while demand for听补尘产耻濒补苍肠别s has risen 77% in the same period.
Rachel Harrison, the union’s national secretary, said the government could solve the dispute at any time.
“We have tried everything to raise听辫补测, the issue that is causing this dispute, but the government will not listen and will not talk,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.
“础尘产耻濒补苍肠别听workers 鈥 and the public 鈥 deserve better. The government needs to talk聽辫补测听now.”
An independent聽辫补测听review body has awarded more than 1 million NHS workers a聽辫补测听rise of at least 1,400 pounds ($1,704), equating to an increase of at least 4% for most听补尘产耻濒补苍肠别听staff, according to the government.
Unions have asked for a rise above inflation, which stood at 10.7% on the consumer price measure in November.
The NHS Confederation, which represents national health service organizations, said the strike risked patient safety.
“We cannot guarantee patient safety, we cannot avoid risks in the context of this industrial action,” chief executive聽聽on Tuesday.
The army has been put on standby to help drive and direct emergency vehicles, but soldiers will not have all the powers that regular听补尘产耻濒补苍肠别听drivers have to respond or provide clinical care. – Reuters
