As ambulance workers strike across the U.K., health officials there have warned people not to get so drunk over the holidays that they end up in the hospital.
“It’s the season of parties, pre-Christmas, so do enjoy yourself, but obviously don't get so drunk that you end up with an unnecessary [emergency room] visit,” said Stephen Powis, national director of National Health Service England, according to CBS News.
In an NHS announcement this week, Powis also said “drinking responsibly or checking up on a family member or neighbor who may be particularly vulnerable to make sure they are ok,” are ways to keep the holiday season safe amid the strike.
In a blog post from Unison – one of the groups on strike along with GMB Union and others – workers are asking for pay and staffing.
“The current state of the NHS, and the resulting industrial action, is not your fault,” said a Union messages to strikers. “Any blame from the government today, is a deflection away from taking responsibility for their own actions over the last 12 years.”
Sarah Quigley, an emergency medical technician featured in a BBC video shared Thursday by GMB Union, said that conditions are ‘insurmountable.” She explained that first responders have been sent to patients who were waiting from the night before and they have waited on the back of ambulances for hours, unable to get to patients in need.
“I hugely value the work of our NHS staff & it’s disappointing some union members are going ahead with further strike action – my door remains open to further talks,” said Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in a Tuesday tweet.
GMB said that pay issues have made it hard for dedicated emergency responders to remain in the service.
“The industrial action on Wednesday gave staff the opportunity to exercise their right to protest, which they did in a most professional way, and we thank them for this, said a Thursday message from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, another group on strike in the U.K. “However, while the Government and unions have so far been unable to reach an agreement that would have prevented this industrial action – and with further disruptive strike action on the horizon just a matter of days away – as ambulance leaders we continue to call for the two sides to meet and do everything in their power to find a way to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible.”
AACE thanked the public for adhering to advice and keeping ambulance volume manageable during the strike.
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