Photo: ANP
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the strike by UK ambulance workers was “terrifying” for patients in need of urgent care. Ambulance workers want higher wages and better working conditions with the strike and only come to the most urgent matters.
“It’s scary that people now don’t know if they are getting the care they need when they call the emergency number,” Sunak told Parliament. Ambulance workers also went on strike in December. About 10,000 employees were involved in England and Wales. New promotions may follow later this month.
British Health Secretary Steve Barclay said earlier that the strikes on ambulances were “extremely deplorable” and raised concerns about patient safety, despite agreements about help with the most serious matters.
The ambulance workers’ strike is part of a widespread strike wave across the UK to protest against higher wages due to soaring inflation. There were also measures in British public transport, the postal service, border security and other sectors.