London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

NHS facing more walkouts as ambulance staff strike

NHS facing more walkouts as ambulance staff strike

The NHS is braced for more strikes by staff after health unions pulled out of the independent pay review process.

The announcement by 14 health unions that they would no longer work with the NHS Pay Review Body came as ambulance crews in England and Wales walked out for the second time this winter.

The unions had been due to make a submission about the 2023-24 pay award.

But they refused to do so given the continuing dispute over this year's, upping the pressure on ministers.

One of the unions, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), also announced it would be taking its first strike action of winter later this month.

Sources at the GMB said fresh ambulance strikes were likely to be announced next week.

Nurses will strike for two days next week.

Sara Gorton, who chairs the 14-strong NHS group of unions, said: "The NHS staffing crisis is so acute only prompt action on pay - both for this and the next financial year - can start to turn things around.

"The public knows ambulance response times are worsening and hospital waiting lists growing because the NHS no longer has the necessary staff to meet demand nor provide safe patient care.

"Ministers must seize the initiative, get everyone around the table and negotiate a way to the best deal for staff, patients and services."


'This dispute is not just about pay'

Paramedics taking part in Wednesday's strikes have insisted the dispute is not just about pay.

Lewis Stoner, from Devon, who has worked for the ambulance services for 10 years, says the current pressures make it "so hard" to provide the services patients need.

Even when the highest priority calls come in, "we've no-one to send", he says.

"It feels like the pressure just grows and grows," Mr Stoner adds.

Meanwhile, Vimal Mistry, an East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic for seven years, says things have "just got worse" since the Covid pandemic.

"People can't get appointments anymore so they put off going to the doctor and when it gets worse they come to us," he says.

He and colleagues are also struggling with the cost of living, Mr Mistry say.

"I'm now having to think about how much heating I have on in the house - I have it on for two hours a day now."

Talks were held with Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Monday but no agreements reached.

The discussions centred on what could be done for staff in 2023-24.

But now, the unions have made clear they will not discuss next year until their demands are met this year.

NHS staff received an average rise of 4.75% this year - with all guaranteed at least an extra £1,400.


This was in line with the recommendations of the independent pay-review process. But unions say the process took too long - by the time the pay award was made, six months after their submission, inflation had risen sharply.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman defended the pay-review system, pointing out it considered a range of evidence from trade unions, the NHS and government.

He said the health secretary wanted an "honest conversation" with unions about what was affordable.

Claire Sullivan, of the CSP, said its action, on 26 January and 9 February, in England and Wales, was an "absolute last resort".

"NHS staff not only deserve better pay but also desperately need it during this cost-of-living crisis," she said. And there would be further strike dates without an improved offer.


'Kept working'


Ahead of ambulance staff striking on Wednesday, ministers had warned they were concerned about the impact on patients.

But Andy Prendergast, of the GMB, one of the two unions involved, said three-quarters of ambulance staff had kept working, to ensure patients remained safe, which was "unprecedented" for a strike.

NHS Providers, which represents health managers and also raised the alarm about the impact of the walkout, said it was "too early" to have a clear picture of how much disruption had been caused.

Interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said demand had reduced, as during the strike on 21 December .

"We know that there will be disruption but the scale of it is hard to see at the moment," she added.

Your device may not support this visualisation

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
×