WITH significant delays expected due to forthcoming ambulance service strikes, members of the public are being urged to only dial 999 for life-threatening conditions or injuries.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has declared a critical incident to allow it to "protect our core services for patients and respond to ongoing demand".

YAS said it is facing high levels of demand and long delays handing over patients at hospitals.

It comes ahead of tomorrow's strike by ambulance service workers.

GMB union members will take industrial action tomorrow and Wednesday, December 28, for 24 hours, between midnight and midnight. This will affect all services.

UNISON members are planning to take action tomorrow for 12 hours from midday to midnight, affecting A&E operations only.

The industrial action is part of a national pay dispute with the government.

Union membership in YAS of both GMB and Unison is approximately 4,000 staff, out of a workforce of more than 7,000.

YAS has put a number of contingency plans in place to allow it to respond to high-acuity life-threatening and very serious cases during the strike.

Discussions between trade unions and the YAS senior management team have now concluded and exemptions have been agreed.

For the emergency ambulance service, this includes responding to calls where someone is in a life-threatening condition.

Nick Smith, executive director of operations at YAS, said: “With continued operational pressures and the added challenge of industrial action, we will have fewer resources available to respond.

“Services will be severely disrupted, with the likelihood of significant delays.

“So, we are urging the public to use the emergency ambulance service more wisely and only to call 999 when someone is in a life-threatening or very serious condition as we prioritise our response to those most in need.

“Ambulances will still be able to respond during the strike, but this will only be where there is an immediate risk to life.

“Less serious calls will not receive a response for the duration of the strike action and some patients might be asked to make their own way to hospital, where it is safe for them to so.

“Patients waiting for an ambulance should only call back if their symptoms worsen or to cancel an ambulance if alternative transport has been arranged, so that our lines are available to take new emergency calls.”

“We also ask that people seek help and advice from alternative healthcare providers, including NHS 111 Online (111.nhs.uk), their own GP or by visiting a pharmacist.

“Looking ahead, we also anticipate that the days between the two strike days will be busy and as we head into the extended Christmas period and would urge everyone to continue to use our services wisely.”

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