Steve Barclay accuses unions of choosing to ‘inflict harm’ on patients

Health secretary urges public to take ‘extra care’ as 25,000 ambulance staff walk out

Health secretary Steve Barclay has urged the public to take “extra care” as ambulance staff strike in support of a pay claim (PA) (PA Wire)

Health secretary Steve Barclay has accused trade unions of making a “conscious decision” to “inflict harm” on patients as thousands of ambulance staff walk out on the first of two one-day strikes.

Mr Barclay urged the public to take “extra care” after last ditch talks with the unions on Tuesday failed to avert planned industrial action by around 25,000 staff in England and Wales.

As NHS leaders warned they could not guarantee patient safety, the unions  angrily accused the Government of putting lives at risk by refusing to engage with them on the issue of pay.