‘Significant escalation’ in strike action, warns ambulance chief
Ambulance chiefs have warned of a ‘significant escalation’ in the strike action being planned by unions next week – saying the flexibilities that helped deal with previous walk-outs will no longer be available.
Striking staff drop cover for strokes and suspected heart attacks
Striking ambulance workers in two regions have said for the first time that they will only answer immediately life-threatening calls — abandoning previous agreements to cover some Category 2 incidents.
North by North West: Flory tasked with getting a grip
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Free coffee for delayed ambulance crews paused after £20k bill
Trust chiefs have paused a scheme which enabled ambulance crews facing long accident and emergency handover delays to get a free tea or coffee, after receiving a £20,000 bill for a single month.
Staff at final ambulance trust vote to join strikes
Staff at the East of England ambulance trust – the only one to escape strike action so far – have voted to join the industrial action.
Two full days of ambulance strikes announced for January
Unison has announced two 24-hour ambulance worker strikes in January, adding it will start balloting members for further strikes in the spring.
‘Constructive’ first ambulance strike agreement revealed
Elderly people who fall may only be sent an ambulance after they have spent four hours on the floor, and some category 2 calls may not be responded to under one of the first agreements with ambulance unions about next week’s strikes.
Every ambulance trust on highest alert level
All ambulance services have declared the highest level of alert due to ‘extreme pressures’ facing the urgent and emergency care system.
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‘Inadequate’ trust gets new chief executive
An experienced acute hospital executive has been appointed to lead South Central Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.
Ambulance strike dates and trusts revealed
Thousands of ambulance staff across England will go on strike during the festive period this month in a dispute over pay, three unions have announced.
North by North West: Hospitals face intervention on ambulance handovers
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A&E staff ordered to receive ambulances ‘in all instances’
Directors of a major hospital have ordered their accident and emergency staff to continue receiving ambulance patients into their department “in all instances”, following angry exchanges with paramedics.
North by North West: Unease around waiting list prioritisation
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Trusts should seek extra funding to be ready for major incidents, says inquiry
Ambulance trusts should review their ability to respond to mass casualty incidents and press commissioners for any additional resources they need, the report into the Manchester Arena bombing has said.
North by North West: New lows for ambulance handover crisis
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Paramedics in ‘Mexican standoff’ with A&E staff after ‘unprecedented’ rule change
Angry exchanges between paramedics and A&E staff in Liverpool have broken out after new measures were deployed to hold and treat patients in the back of ambulances.
The Primer: Another Sunak solution
The Primer provides a rapid guide to the most interesting comment and analysis on the English health and care sector that has not (usually) appeared in HSJ.
North by North West: Christie rebuffs NHSE and refuses to apologise
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North by North West: Merger ‘kicked into long grass’ amid warring departments
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North by North West: Ambulance crisis being shrugged off
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