Paramedics in Worcestershire will still respond to life-threatening incidents tomorrow despite ambulance staff going on strike.

Members of the Unite and GMB unions are taking industrial action on Wednesday, December 21 over a pay dispute with the Government.

But West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) said it will still send crews to the most urgent calls.

Unite says its members will undertake strike action from 6am to 5.59pm tomorrow, while GMB has indicated that its members will strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm. 

READ MORE: Nurses striking for second day outside Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Nathan Hudson, emergency services operations delivery director at WMAS, said: “We have had productive discussions with our staffside colleagues to agree that ambulances will respond to the most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests and where a crew request immediate back up at the scene of a case.

“[We will also respond to] other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.

“In addition, staff in our non-emergency patient transport service will continue to convey vulnerable groups such as patients undertaking renal dialysis, cancer treatments, palliative care, emergency scans within the strike period time frame.

'A very dangerous time'

“Only call 999 if you or the patient is critically unwell or there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate.

“If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk), your local GP or pharmacy.”

NHS Trusts are reminding people that GP surgeries, pharmacies and dentists are not affected by the strikes - and that people can take simple steps to keep themselves safe.

These include drinking responsibly and stocking up on medication.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said there was a “deep worry” about the level of harm and risk that could come to patients.

“We are particularly concerned about the ambulance workers’ strike tomorrow but we’re concerned about the possibility of further strikes,” he said.

“We need to make clear that we’re entering into a very dangerous time and this is why we’re upping even more our call to the Government and to the trade unions to try to find a way of solving this dispute and helping us get through the winter.”