Army on standby to help during NHS strike

The director of operations for London Ambulance Service has said their plans to deal with today's industrial action by the capital's ambulance crews worked well.

Less than a quarter of crews turned up to work during the strike between 7am and 11am.

Mr Killens said he wanted to thank Londoners for their understanding during the dispute and re-iterated that people call NHS111 and only call 999 for an ambulance in a genuine emergency. He said ongoing industrial action - action short of a strike - during the rest of this week would mean a reduction in the number of ambulance crews available to do overtime.

Bosses at London Ambulance Service have said operations are returning to normal after some staff took strike action today between 7am and 11am.

LAS said that, during the industrial action paramedics, doctors and nurses worked on ambulances, and also from the emergency control room where they carried out enhanced clinical assessments of patients.

Eighty six per cent of control room staff worked during the strike action and 23 per cent of ambulance crews.

People in life-threatening situations received an emergency ambulance response but others were provided with alternative treatments or were asked to make their own way to hospital.

The London Ambulance Service is asking people in the capital to use the service "wisely", following the end of a four-hour strike by NHS workers.

The strike ended at 11am, but the service said it would "continue to be busy" following the industrial action.

A poll for the union Unite shows the public supports health workers in their campaign for an above-inflation pay rise.

A survey of more than 1,000 people showed that almost two thirds thought a continued below-inflation one per cent pay cap was unfair.

Three out of five of those questioned said they believed industrial action being taken by NHS workers was justified.

According to Frances O'Grady, of the Trades Union Congress, this is the first time there has been a national strike over pay in the NHS since 1982.

London's paramedics are among more than 400,000 health workers expected to be out on strike this morning between 7am and 11am.

Picket lines will be mounted outside hospitals and ambulance stations across England for four hours from 7am, while action will be taken later today in Northern Ireland.

Military personnel and the police have been brought in to provide ambulance cover in the capital.

Several trade unions will be involved in the action, including those representing nurses, paramedics, hospital porters and ambulance crews as well as the Royal College of Midwives.

The dispute involves over 400,000 NHS staff, who have been hit by pay freezes or below inflation rises since the coalition came to power in 2010.

Troops have been making ready to provide ambulance cover during tomorrow's strike by NHS staff. ITV London filmed these pictures of the preparations at Wellington Barracks earlier this afternoon. Paramedics are among those walking out for four hours from 7am, after the Government refused to grant a one per cent pay rise to all NHS staff.

The head of operations for London Ambulance has said they are expecting to be under "significant pressure" tomorrow during a four-hour strike by NHS workers.

Health workers in England and Northern Ireland are preparing to go on strike for four hours tomorrow in protest at the Government's controversial decision not to accept a recommended 1 per cent pay rise for all NHS employees.

Midwives will stop work for the first time ever, joining picket lines outside hospitals alongside other health workers including nurses, ambulance staff, paramedics and porters.

Troops are on standby to provide ambulance cover in London and the North West. Jason Killens of London Ambulance said they had contingency plans in place to help "the most seriously ill and injured patients" during tomorrow's industrial action.