Rotherham ambulance staff join protest strike

The stoppage involved 450 Yorkshire Ambulance Service centres in a protest at plans to introduce emergency care assistants to work with Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s more highly-trained paramedics.

The Unite union, which represents about ten per cent of the service's workforce, claims the move would jeopardise patient care.

But the Yorkshire Ambulance Service has said it is trying to maintain care levels while making £46 million savings in five years.

Members of other unions were not involved and worked normally to provide emergency cover and other services.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust claimed “the vast majority” of staff worked normally.

Unite claims the response to 999 calls is becoming a postcode lottery.

“The sick and injured may receive attention from a fully-trained paramedic crew, but, on the other hand, they could get a private ambulance containing unqualified staff,” it said in a statement.

Terry Cunliffe, Unite regional organiser, said: “We believe these management proposals are dangerous and our members are prepared to stand up and fight for the public in order to maintain their safety.”

But Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said the planned changes to the service would enable it to continue to deliver “a high quality and responsive service” to patients.