Two unions, UNITE and GMB, are on strike today (Wednesday 21 December) but the public have been assured that the ambulance service will still respond to incidents where there is a threat to life. 

Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Nathan Hudson, said: "We have had productive discussions with our staffside colleagues to agree that ambulances will respond to:

• The most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests 
• Other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.

"In addition, staff in our non-emergency patient transport service will continue to convey vulnerable groups such as patients undertaking renal dialysis, cancer treatments, palliative care, emergency scans within the strike period timeframe."

Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer, Jeremey Brown, said: "We respect the right of trade union members to take such action but it should be noted that this has been taken in response to a national pay dispute with the Government."

Unions voted to strike in a dispute over the Government's 4% pay award.

Unite says it wants a pay rise 'in line with the cost of living'.

People are being reminded to only call 999 if you are critically unwell or there is risk to life. 

For medical advice, go to NHS 111 online or your local GP.