Ambulance services across the country have declared critical incidents as crews prepare to go on strike tomorrow – impacting the response to patients in need of emergency care.

Paramedics in London declared a “Business Continuity Incident” and in Nottingham and the North East critical incidents were declared.

London Ambulance Service It said its 999 and 111 services “remain extremely busy” and it would be “prioritising our sickest and most severely injured patients”.

It urged the public to call 999 only in a serious medical emergency, use 111 online if they need help fast – but it is not a life-threatening emergency and make their own way to hospital if it is safe and possible for them to do so.

Ambulance workers set to stage strikes

It comes as thousands of nurses will stage a second walkout today over pay today, while ambulance workers including paramedics, control room workers and technicians will also walk out in England and Wales tomorrow.

The government has announced controversial plans to deploy more than 1,000 civil servants and 1,200 troops to cover striking ambulance workers and Border Force staff, who are preparing to walk out for eight days from 23 December until New Year’s Eve.

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Unions branded the move a “desperate measure” and warned the servicemen and women are not “sufficiently trained” to plug staffing gaps on the front line.

During the ambulance strike the military will not drive ambulances on blue lights for the most serious calls, but are expected to provide support on less serious calls.

Negotiations over which incidents should be exempt from strike action

Unions and ambulance services are still negotiating to work out which incidents should be exempt from strike action.

All Category 1 calls (the most life-threatening such as cardiac arrest) will be responded to, while some ambulance trusts have agreed exemptions with unions for specific incidents within Category 2 (serious conditions, such as stroke or chest pain).

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It means those who suffer trips, falls or other non-life-threatening injuries may not receive treatment.

The London Ambulance Service said “patients whose conditions are not life-threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance on industrial action days”.

It said where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS 111 online or through NHS 111.

GMB members are set to stage a second ambulance worker walkout on 28 December.

Pressure on staff and services

Nottingham University Hospitals and North East Ambulance have declared a “critical incident”, prioritising the sickest and cancelling some outpatient appointments.

Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals, has said staff are working “tirelessly during a period of exceptional pressure on our hospitals” and has reported a large number of people with illnesses arriving in Emergency Departments seeking assistance.

Dr Girling continued: “We regret that this will impact on patients who were due to receive planned care over the next few days and sincerely apologise to all those affected.”

Nottingham University Hospitals has reassured patients that these “appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible.”

The hospital added: “If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do so as early as possible. This will help our teams and free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.”

Read more on Sky News:
How A&E and other NHS services will be impacted

Significant delays are also seen with North East Ambulance Services who reported that more than “200 patients were waiting” for an ambulance.

Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer at the hospital, said: “Declaring a critical incident means we can focus our resources on those patients most in need and communicates the pressures we are under to our health system partners who can provide support.”

They have urged the public to call only if they have a “life-threatening emergency”.

“Our staff and volunteers continue to work extremely hard to respond to calls and incidents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and commitment at this challenging time.”

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