North London ambulance staff and driving examiners strike

Although most rail services have now returned to normal, industrial action will take place across a variety of other sectors this week.

Here, we break down how strike action planned for the week ahead will affect you. 

Ambulance staff

UNISON union members who staff ambulances and response vehicles for the London Ambulance Service are set to walk out from midday until midnight on Wednesday January 11.

The North West London integrated care board said that the strike would not affect the call handling teams in its 999 or 111 control centres.

But the NHS trust warned that there would be fewer ambulances on the road during strike hours.

Patients were advised to only call 999 in an emergency, including if they experience unconsciousness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe blood loss and choking.

North West London NHS added that patients whose condition is not life-threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance on industrial action days.

They said that these patients should use the 111 service and, if necessary, arrange alternative transport to hospital.

The strike follows similar action that took place on December 21, with a further walk-out planned for January 23.

Driving test examiners

Driving examiners are set to strike today and tomorrow (January 9-10) in a dispute over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms.

The action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) means some practical tests will no longer go ahead, although theory tests should be unaffected.

Not all examiners are set to go on strike, so unless you are told otherwise you should still attend any test booked for these dates.

Test centres affected include those in Enfield and Wood Green. For a full list click here.

Public transport strikes

Bus strikes are not set to affect north London, although disruption is expected on Abellio bus services in west and south London on Tuesday (January 10) and Thursday (January 12).

A strike is also planned for workers on the Elizabeth Line on Thursday (January 12). This is set to disrupt services on the line until 9am on Friday (January 13).

For more information and to check which bus routes will be impacted click here.

Government response

Health Secretary Steve Barclay criticised unions involved in the December ambulance staff strike.

He wrote in the Telegraph: “They promised that each ambulance trust where their members are striking would have sufficient cover to respond to the most serious emergencies. 

“Yet even on the eve of the walkout, the cover arrangements were changing and the national picture was not clear. Ambulance unions have taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients.”

Responding to the Health Secretary and commenting on the January strike dates, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It’s only through talks that this dispute will end. No health workers want to go out on strike again in the new year. 

“But accusing NHS staff of making a conscious decision to inflict harm on the public by taking action this week was not the Health Secretary’s finest hour. 

“Neither was it a particularly smart move for Steve Barclay to falsely accuse health unions of failing to deliver a national emergency cover plan. The Secretary of State knew full well life and limb cover arrangements were being agreed locally by ambulance managers and unions. 

“It’s time Steve Barclay stopped with the insults and fibs and called the unions in for proper talks about improving NHS pay. 

“Speeding up next year’s pay review body process won’t solve the current dispute, which is about the pitiful amount the government gave health workers this year.  

“The government must stop using the pay review body as cover for its own inaction. This year’s pay rise simply wasn’t enough to halt the exodus of staff from the NHS.  

“The Government should right that wrong with an increase better matching inflation. Only then will vacancy rates reduce, allowing the NHS to get back on track and start delivering safe patient care once more.”