London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Ambulance staff strikes: Eluned Morgan hopeful of 999 response

Ambulance staff strikes: Eluned Morgan hopeful of 999 response

Wales' health minister has said she was "hopeful" ambulances would get to the most serious calls when paramedics plan to strike on Wednesday.

Eluned Morgan said red category life-threatening calls would be prioritised but people "need to consider" pressure on other calls "will be even greater".

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it had been experiencing high call demand as a result of the icy weather.

It has called on people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

The UK government has made arrangements to deploy 1,200 members of the military and 1,000 civil servants in England during Wednesday's strike.

Ms Morgan said the army had a role to play but soldiers would not be driving ambulances in Wales.

"We will not be using the army to transport people, but we are going to be using the army for logistics," she told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement.


Eluned Morgan said NHS Wales would be "under immense" pressure this week with separate strikes by ambulance workers and nurses

"That is making sure we use the capacity we do have to its maximum effect.

"We have discussed that with trade unions and they seem to be comfortable with that particular use of the services."

Ms Morgan said NHS Wales would be "under immense" pressure this week with separate action by ambulance workers and a nurses' strike on 20 December.


'Greater pressure'


Asked if she was confident people in with red category calls would get an ambulance during the strike, Ms Morgan said: "We're hopeful they will if they are in that category on Wednesday.

"But that means the pressure on those not in that category will be even greater, that's something people need to consider.

"And, obviously, it's important that people seek clinical advice."

She said people calling the NHS Wales 111 advice line and the 999 service would be directed to the most appropriate help.

"And there will be occasions when you'll be encouraged to try and get yourself to hospital if it is genuinely difficult and not that life-threatening situation," she said.

Members of the RCN on the picket line outside the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff


The Welsh Ambulance Service recorded its worst-ever performance in October, latest figures have shown, responding to less than half of red category calls within eight minutes.

Some 10,000 ambulance staff are striking across most of Wales and England on 21 December in a dispute over pay.

Meanwhile, Helen Whyley, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) director in Wales, said there will "absolutely" be more nursing strikes in the new year.

Welsh Conservative health spokesman Russell George called it "totally disingenuous" for the first minister to say he could do nothing.

"I am also surprised that the health minister is so candid, only being hopeful that ambulances will actually reach the most serious situations," Mr George said.

"However, that seems to be the case even when there isn't a strike on, with Wales recording its slowest response times on record in October.

"Labour need to get a grip on the NHS."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×