February 6 nurses & paramedics strike: NHS hospital & ambulance trusts with industrial action in West Midlands

The NHS will be hit hard as ambulance workers and nurses strike on the same day, with members from the RCN, GMB and Unite unions all set to walk out
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The biggest strike in NHS history is set to take place next month on February 6.

The day will mark the first ever time ambulance staff and nurses have walked out at the same time. Further strike action is expected, with ambulance staff set to strike again several times throughout February, as well as 6 March and 20 March. Meanwhile, nurses will also take action on 7 February.

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The GMB Union, which represents around 100,000 ambulance workers including paramedics and call handlers, the Unite ambulance workers union, and the Royal College of Nursing have remained in a bitter pay dispute with the government, with no signs of the either side coming to an agreement soon.

The ongoing strikes among health workers has seen action taken on separate days. However, 6 February could mark the first time industrial action has been taken by more than one group of workers in the NHS.

Nursing strikes

Nurses at 73 NHS trusts in England are set to strike - more than the amount of NHS trusts that walked out during two days of strikes in December.

The nursing strikes will take place on 6 and 7 December. These are the NHS Trusts in the West Midlands where members will be taking part in strike action in February:

  • Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
  • The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
  • Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The NHS will be hit hard as ambulance workers and nurses strike on the same dayThe NHS will be hit hard as ambulance workers and nurses strike on the same day
The NHS will be hit hard as ambulance workers and nurses strike on the same day

Ambulance strikes

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The GMB Union has said more than 10,000 of its members, including paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff, will walk out on 6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March.

Which NHS trusts are striking on February 6?

Unite workers striking:

  • West Midlands Ambulance Trust
  • North East Ambulance Trust
  • North West Ambulance Trust
  • East Midlands Ambulance Trust
  • Wales Ambulance Trust

GMB workers striking:

  • East Midlands Ambulance Service
  • Mersey Care NHS
  • North East Ambulance Service
  • North West Ambulance Service
  • South Central Ambulance
  • South East Coast Ambulance Service
  • South West Ambulance Service
  • Welsh Ambulance Service
  • Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Thousands of operations and appointments are expected to be cancelled over the two consecutive days of strike action, with the health service likely to run a bank holiday-style service in many areas. In December, almost 30,000 needed to be rescheduled due to strike action.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has agreed to staff chemotherapy, emergency cancer services, dialysis, critical care units, neonatal and paediatric intensive care. Some areas of mental health and learning disability and autism services are also exempt from the strike, while trusts will be told they can request staffing for specific clinical needs. As for adult A&E and urgent care, nurses will work Christmas Day-style rotas.

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