Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 26, 2025

UK Strikes: 'Only call 999 if you think you're about to die'

UK Strikes: 'Only call 999 if you think you're about to die'

As ambulance workers downed tools for the first time in over 30 years, the human toll of the strike has begun to emerge.
On the day that ambulance workers went on strike for the first time in a generation, the number of 999 calls being made appears to be plummeting in some areas across the country.

Hours into the strikes by 10 of 11 ambulance trusts in England and Wales, Health Service Journal reported a fall in the volume of 999 calls across the country.

The journal said West Midlands Ambulance Service had seen a 70 per cent drop in its calls, raising fears that the seriously ill are not making contact.

As paramedics and ambulance crews took to picket lines across England and Wales, senior medics raised concern that those in need of emergency care may not be coming forward.

Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, said it was "absolutely the Government's" fault and accused them of being "totally irresponsible".

You should only call 999 if you think you are going to die, an ambulance chief said as tens of thousands of staff walked out.

Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer of North East Ambulance Service, wants patients to ask themselves: “Am I going to die? Do I feel like I am going to die?” As a war of words escalated on Wednesday morning between union chiefs and ministers, on the ground Mr Segasby told patients: “Ambulances will still be able to respond during the strike, but this will only be where there is an immediate risk to life.”


No trains until second week of January
In other strike-related news, some commuters may not be able to return to the office until mid-January due to more industrial action on the railways.

Passengers were greeted with a sign telling them that there will be no Chiltern Railways services between Amersham and London Marylebone until Jan 8 on Wednesday morning.

It is thought that hundreds of stations - predominantly on branch lines - will be cut off until the second week of January.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
×