Paramedics in Yorkshire Ambulance Service have voted to hold a one-day strike on April 2 in a dispute over patient safety and derecognition of Unite, the country’s largest union.

Unite said this afternoon that its 450 paramedics and other ambulance staff members had also voted overwhelmingly to institute a continuous overtime ban from March 26.

Up to 61 per cent voted in favour of strike action and 83 per cent voted in favour of industrial action.

The union has said that it had twice attempted to discuss the implications of industrial action and also asked for the dispute to be referred to the conciliation service Acas.

It has accused the management at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust of rebuffing the union’s efforts to find a solution.

Unite members voted to take industrial action in the form of an overtime ban due to start at 6am on March 26, which will be continuous. A 24-hour strike is due to be held on April 2. Further strike action could follow.

Unite regional officer Terry Cunliffe said: “Unite calls for the management to open constructive negotiations in the run-up to April 2.

"This is a final window of opportunity for the trust to resolve this situation for the benefit of the Yorkshire public."