Ambulance workers on strike in England and Wales

In England and Wales, 20,000 health workers, including ambulance workers, went on a one-day strike demanding wage increases and staffing shortages.

Ambulance workers, who are members of two unions, as well as paramedics and emergency call center personnel participated in the strike.

Trade unions and National Health Service (NHS) officials agreed to respond to the top priority emergencies that pose a life-threatening threat during the strike.

NHS officials have warned that the impact of today's strike could be more severe than the strike before Christmas because of its scope.

It said it would seek help from other NHS staff and the military to meet the minimum need.

Unison Union General Secretary Christina McAnea said that during the recent strike, paramedics did not hesitate to stop and intervene when a vital situation was at stake.

"It's ironic that the government is doing this during the strike, despite the demands we've been making for years to set a mandatory minimum staffing level in healthcare," said Christina McAnea.

McAnea said, "All other days of the year, ambulance officers wait for patient delivery in front of the emergency services of hospitals for hours, the hospital staff work without breathing for a moment. But the government is not interested in the minimum number of personnel in those days."