Some paramedics have started a 24-hour industrial action in Northern Ireland, which the ambulance service in the region has warned might lead to delays in responses to 999 calls.
The Unite union is staging the stoppage, which is part of a pay dispute and began early on Wednesday.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said the impact of the ongoing action by the unions was “significant”.
“Ambulance control staff have been dynamically managing the situation to position crews in areas where they are most likely to be needed in an effort to maintain as high a level of service as possible,” the statement said. “The proposed action by Unite on 6 May will further impact on our ability to deliver an emergency service to those in need.
“The public may, immediately, notice a delay in their call being answered by our control staff and there will be delays in ambulance response as the trust anticipates a reduced level of cover for the 24-hour period.
“Calls will be prioritised upon receipt and ambulances sent to the most critically injured or clinically ill patients first. Those with less serious complaints may experience prolonged waits for ambulance response. The trust would ask anyone phoning 999 to consider other alternatives.”
Unite defended the strike, which it said it had taken to defend the dignity of its 250 members in the ambulance service.
Kevin McAdam from Unite said: “This action is only the latest in a long-running pay campaign to ensure healthcare workers are treated with respect and dignity. We urge the incoming health minister to move swiftly to address the outstanding pay dispute and prevent further action.”
The union represents about 25% of all ambulance service staff in the region.
