The Leader podcast: NHS strikes nurse speaks out

Soldiers drafted in to cover 999
(James Manning/PA)
PA Wire
Mark Blunden @_MarkBlunden20 December 2022
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Ten thousands nurses walked out on Tuesday - with paramedics set to joined the strikes.

It comes as soldiers drafted in as emergency stand-ins for paramedics say they’re being stopped from carrying out treatment or using 999 blue lights.

The Royal College of Nursing is calling for a 19.2 per cent rise, but the government’s agreed to about a quarter of that.

So, now both sides are dug in with Rishi Sunak ruling out reopening talks and suggesting he’s dug in for a war of attrition with the unions.

Hundreds of squaddies costing thousands of pounds each a week each are meant to fill the void as paramedics strike for the first time in three decades.

But whereas they’re used to operating under fire and working on life-threatening wounds in war zones, military personnel say they’re not allowed to break the speed limit on a blue light emergency or even treat civilian patients.

The government says it’s putting patient safety first, as Britons are being urged by the government to avoid “risky” activities to help with pressure on emergency services on strike days.

For the latest from the picket line and modern NHS working pressures, the Leader’s joined by Ameera, an A&E nurse and a union member at a central London hospital, and Evening Standard health reporter Daniel Keane.

Listen here or here:

You can find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in