Patients told to get themselves to hospital in taxis during ambulance service strike
Sick or injured people in Greater Manchester face getting a taxi to hospital accident and emergency departments, a lift in from others or somehow making their own way there as ambulance service staff walk out on strike on Wednesday, according to reports today.
There will be no transfer of patients from walk-in centres, urgent treatment centres, care homes and assisted living settings to A&E should they need it, unless its a case of immediate cardiac arrest or a threat to a person's life, added NWAS bosses. It goes on to say bosses fear 'operational challenges' for a further 48 hours and advises staff to plan for '72 hours of disruption'.
Ged Blezard, Director of Operations, said in a statement today: "We have tried and tested plans to manage any disruption, including industrial action, however, it’s important to understand there will be an impact on the public. We want you to continue to ring 999 in a situation where there is an immediate threat to life. However, we are advising patients, that they should consider other forms of transport if they still need to go to a hospital.
Meanwhile Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, today pleaded with unions to call off NHS strike action with a warning about the impact the walk-outs will have on people’s health. “I’m really disappointed to see that the unions are calling these strikes, particularly at Christmas, particularly when it has such an impact on people’s day-to-day lives with the disruption it causes and the impact on their health,” Mr Sunak said. "I would urge them to keep considering whether these strikes are really necessary and do everything they can to alleviate the impact it’s going to have on people.
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