'They've made a conscious decision to stand up for what they believe is an NHS crumbling beneath their feet' says GMB's Rachel Harrison, responding to the Health Sec's claims unions consciously chose to strike while the system is under pressure 📺Sky 501
Asked why there was not a national contingency plan in place for the industrial action, he told Sky News:"The difficulty with putting contingency measures in place is given the uncertainty as to what exactly is and is not being covered, and the fact that those decisions in some cases will be taken on the day."
Ahead of the industrial action, the unions had called on the government to make an offer on pay and suggested an agreement could be reached. Mr Barclay said:"There will be fewer ambulances on the road due to industrial action and the NHS will be prioritising those with life-threatening needs. Writing in The Telegraph, the health secretary added:"We now know that the NHS contingency plans will not cover all 999 calls. Ambulance unions have taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients."
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