Callers urged not to use 999 during strikes (From The Argus)

I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

Why shouldnt they strike?

Why shouldnt they strike?

Or call NHS direct on 0845 4647 maybe.

Good effort from the Argus giving out the incorrect number which could potentially save lives.

jimbobmaginty wrote:
I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

Apologies for the wrong number. This was the number issued by Secamb along with their warning. I have now changed it.

Pitviper wrote:

jimbobmaginty wrote:
I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

could you please explain what is bigoted by having an opinion ?

papa_melons wrote:

Pitviper wrote:

jimbobmaginty wrote: I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

could you please explain what is bigoted by having an opinion ?

FYI
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.

Definition from the Oxford English Dictionary.

Private Sector workers respond to 999 calls everyday for Secamb and the use of them is increasing weekly.

Pitviper wrote:

jimbobmaginty wrote: I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

What happens if someone is in need of urgent medical attention? What happens if this person dies because no ambulance service is near them?? What if they could have been saved if an ambulance was nearer?
I don’t like it and I think they are out of order!

jimbobmaginty wrote:

Pitviper wrote:

jimbobmaginty wrote: I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

What happens if someone is in need of urgent medical attention? What happens if this person dies because no ambulance service is near them?? What if they could have been saved if an ambulance was nearer? I don’t like it and I think they are out of order!

So you believe they are not entitled to show their anger at the pension changes that are being forced upon them, that they should just accept them all because you don't like it, as I said before BIGOT!

jimbobmaginty wrote:
I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

Idiot. You think some people were put on this earth just to drive you round in an ambulance? Go and be one yourself if you think it's so mandatory.

I can understand why people are upset about the pensions etc but ambulance workers especially took their job (I should think) to help save lives because that's what they wanted to do. I think there has to be a more effective way than striking when you play such an important role in society. It's not the fault of a young child who's been hit by a car or an elderly person perhaps injured at home alone with no ambulance service to help.
As I said I can understand the reasons behind it but think it is also a little bit selfish. Some people out there still can't even get work (No I am not one of them) let alone have the privilege of moaning about pensions!

Always working wrote:
I can understand why people are upset about the pensions etc but ambulance workers especially took their job (I should think) to help save lives because that's what they wanted to do. I think there has to be a more effective way than striking when you play such an important role in society. It's not the fault of a young child who's been hit by a car or an elderly person perhaps injured at home alone with no ambulance service to help. As I said I can understand the reasons behind it but think it is also a little bit selfish. Some people out there still can't even get work (No I am not one of them) let alone have the privilege of moaning about pensions!

There is a scaled down service that will cope providing the morons out there don't waste their time for non-urgent calls, if it's not life threatening and you can get yourself to hospital (if you really need to) then don't waste the valuable time and service of our excellent ambulance staff.

Put yourself in their shoes, would you really roll over and accept the pensions and pay cuts the governement are imposing on them, I don't think so! These people have thought long and hard about their actions today and have only resorted to striking because they have no other way of voicing their concerns and being heard!

There are many ambulance crews working, working to rule (as I will be later). However, just because I'm working to rule, doesn't mean I don't support my colleagues who've chosen to strike. There will be ambulances - and I've seen 3 this morning when I travelled a short distance to my daughters.

jimbobmaginty wrote:

Pitviper wrote:

jimbobmaginty wrote: I can’t believe ambulance workers are on Strike! How dare they put people’s lives at risk like that!!

How dare you be such a rude arrogant bigot, I agree with hippyhippyshake, why shouldn't they strike, they have the same rights as you or I and if you looked carefully at why they are maybe that tiny brain of yours would understand, oh and by the way I DO NOT work for the public sector!

What happens if someone is in need of urgent medical attention? What happens if this person dies because no ambulance service is near them?? What if they could have been saved if an ambulance was nearer? I don’t like it and I think they are out of order!

So because Ambulance Service workers have chosen a career where they can help others, they should put up with any terms & conditions of working regardless?
Why should they and other public sector workers be blackmailed into acceptance of a steady errosion of their pay and conditions because of the type of work that they do?
It is not the striking workers who are out of order but the government ministers who have forced this action. I believe that no one in the public sector wants to go on strike. In the face of such brutal cuts a stand must be taken. It was reported last night on C4 news that the government does not want to increases taxes for the rich because they are concerned that they will merely head abroad. Previously bailed out banks are turning a profit and are not returning profits to the public purse. So that's OK then..........?

Can i put a little perspective on this matter please, if you call for an ambulance via 999 you will not get an endlessly ringing phone line, it will be answered and an ambulance will be sent. However can i just add that week in week out people are calling 999 for a sore throat, a broken finger, a small cut to their foot and other such waste of times. They dont have the ability to realize that they can take themselves to hospital, to call NHS direct, to put a plaster on it, to speak to their Dr, how often is an ambulance on scene at these silly jobs and they could be attending real emergencies. I pleased to say that most of the people i have spoken to are working to rule, attending emergencies as they are expected to do, however they are not doing roadside standby which means sitting at the clock tower for hours on end waiting for a job, they are not training today, they are not doing overtime, that is the level of striking that is taking place. Please dont let this national issue affect you perception of the regular ambulance crews. They are at work and they are responding......pani
c over....
For those that arent fully working to rule is not a knee jerk reaction and is something that has been tried to be resolved for weeks, its not an easy decision to make but one that has been made for 24 hours only. Tomorrow is another day and regular service will be resumed, today is just a variation on the normal service

mickeymoo999 wrote:
Can i put a little perspective on this matter please, if you call for an ambulance via 999 you will not get an endlessly ringing phone line, it will be answered and an ambulance will be sent. However can i just add that week in week out people are calling 999 for a sore throat, a broken finger, a small cut to their foot and other such waste of times. They dont have the ability to realize that they can take themselves to hospital, to call NHS direct, to put a plaster on it, to speak to their Dr, how often is an ambulance on scene at these silly jobs and they could be attending real emergencies. I pleased to say that most of the people i have spoken to are working to rule, attending emergencies as they are expected to do, however they are not doing roadside standby which means sitting at the clock tower for hours on end waiting for a job, they are not training today, they are not doing overtime, that is the level of striking that is taking place. Please dont let this national issue affect you perception of the regular ambulance crews. They are at work and they are responding......pani c over.... For those that arent fully working to rule is not a knee jerk reaction and is something that has been tried to be resolved for weeks, its not an easy decision to make but one that has been made for 24 hours only. Tomorrow is another day and regular service will be resumed, today is just a variation on the normal service

Well said!

Speaking as someone who used to work for SECAmb, I would not have taken strike action if I still worked there, but I do respect the decisions made by staff who have. As mickeymoo999 said, emergency calls ARE still being answered, and ambulances ARE still being sent.