Mr Barclay criticised the 'volatile' assurances given to him about cover by trade unions, claiming the 'scope and extent of arrangements [was] being disputed right up to wire'
The health secretary claims the disparate level of emergency cover during recent ambulance strikes could not be"relied upon to ensure patient and public safety"., and seen by Sky News, Steve Barclay accepted all areas that staged walkouts ensured the most serious 999 calls were still answered.
But he said the lack of cover for category two calls - which includes strokes and chest pain - in some areas were"material to the risk to life of the strike action". Mr Barclay said the government"greatly values the vital work ambulance workers do", but he criticised the"volatile" assurances given to him about cover by trade unions during December's industrial action, claiming the"scope and extent of arrangements [was] being disputed right up to wire".
While he believed in the right to strike and that"a certain amount of disruption is inherent" during walkouts, he said that"during recent action I have not been reassured that the current system of voluntary arrangements can be relied upon to ensure patient and public safety". His letter comes in response to an open letter from the GMB to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday, where the union claimed ambulance staff felt"demonised" and appealed to the government to"stop attacking us".returning to the Commons on Monday, which will set minimum service levels for fire, ambulance and rail services for when the sectors decide to take action - and leave unions at risk of being sued if they fail to comply.
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