Army set to drive ambulances under emergency plans to keep NHS running during strikes

The NHS is bracing for the biggest strike in its history this winter.

NHS: Malcolm Harrison looks ahead of strike action

Ministers are drafting up emergency plans to bring in the Army to keep hospitals running as frontline staff preparing to strike. Health and defence officials are planning for Armed forces personnel to drive ambulances and take on other vital roles in the NHS in a bid to limit the carnage caused by industrial action.

The Royal College of Nursing has already announced plans for members to walk out on December 15 and 20.

But now ambulance drivers and paramedics are considering joining the action in what is set to be the biggest strike in NHS history.

The Government could utilise the military aid to the civil authorities protocol (Maca) to keep key services in the NHS running during major walkouts.

Maca was used during the coronavirus pandemic to help struggling health staff with vaccines, testing and the delivery of protective equipment.

READ MORE: Barclay urges nurses to talk while strikes threats mount

Armed forces personnel could drive ambulances to keep services running

Armed forces personnel could drive ambulances to keep services running (Image: PA)

A Government spokeswoman said: "We are working with the NHS on a range of options to manage disruption to health and care services during industrial action.

"Hospitals will do everything they can to ensure patients and the public are kept safe, however planned appointments may need to be cancelled and emergency care prioritised to those in need of urgent care only."

A formal request for help has not yet been made by the Department of Health.

Trade union laws mean the nurses will still be required to ensure life-preserving care is provided during the strikes.

Union officials are demanding a 19 percent pay rise amid the cost of living crisis.

Yesterday Cabinet minister Mark Harper rejected the pay request, saying there "simply isn't the money".

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Mark Harper said there 'simply isn't the money' to give the pay rises being demanded

Mark Harper said there 'simply isn't the money' to give the pay rises being demanded (Image: SKY)

Unions are required to ensure critical care still takes place during the strikes

Unions are required to ensure critical care still takes place during the strikes (Image: PA)

He told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: "Inflation-matching or inflation-busting pay rises are unaffordable.

"I think we want to try and give all the workers in the public sector who work very hard decent pay rises, but they can't be inflation-busting pay rises.

"There simply isn't the money to pay for those given the context, we haven't seen those in the private sector either, the private sector pay rises have generally been settled below the level of inflation, which I accept is difficult for people."

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has urged the nursing union to "come back to the table" for talks but he is declining to discuss pay, instead wanting to talk about conditions such as pension arrangements, holidays, rosters and the availability of free coffee.

Royal College of Nurses general secretary Pat Cullen blames ministers for the strikes

Royal College of Nurses general secretary Pat Cullen blames ministers for the strikes (Image: PA)

The Royal College of Nurses' general secretary, Pat Cullen, has blamed the Government for the strikes.

"Ministers have had more than two weeks since we confirmed that our members felt such injustice that they would strike for the first time," she said last week.

"My offer of formal negotiations was declined and instead ministers have chosen strike action.

"They have the power and the means to stop this by opening serious talks that address our dispute.

"Nursing staff have had enough of being taken for granted, enough of low pay and unsafe staffing levels, enough of not being able to give our patients the care they deserve."

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