HEALTH workers throughout Bromsgrove joined the picket-line in protest following a national disagreement over pay.

Thousands of NHS staff from various health unions including the largest, Unison which has around 250,000 members, took to the streets in objection of the Government’s decision not to give them a suggested one per cent pay rise.

The four-hour demonstration took place on Monday, October 13, between 7 and 11am.

During the strike, West Midlands Ambulance Service struggled to reach demand with one third of ambulance crews on duty and just as many emergency calls flooding in as on a normal day.

West Midlands Ambulance Service took to Twitter several times to inform the public.

They said: “Worryingly, just as many people are dialing 999 this week as did last week. Use @WMAS111wmids unless it is life threatening #NHSstrike.

“Please RT Call demand during the strike is just as high as normal. Please help us reduce this by using 111, GP, pharmacy & walk in centres.

“We are now stacking over 40 calls with no-one to send to them. Absolutely vital that people only dial 999 if absolutely essential #NHSstrike.” [sic]

Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Gough asked the public not to call 999 unless it was a real, genuine, life-threatening emergency.

He added that West Midlands Ambulance Service was doing all it could order to preserve the service for those most in need, that contingency plans were in place and staff who were not union members would be at work as normal.

A crowd of paramedics in the Unison union took to the main road outside their maintenance and preparation hub in Barnsley Hall Drive, Bromsgrove.

Amongst them Andy Johnson, Unison representative for West Mercia Ambulance Service, said: “A government pay review recommended that MPs had an 11 per cent pay increase which we understand is going to be implemented but a measly one per cent for NHS workers cannot be. It is just about fairness.”

At Princess of Wales Community Hospital several people braved rain and cold winds in support of the strike.

Lynn Horsnett, area organiser for Unison, said: “It’s just not fair, they work really hard and they deserve a pay rise.”

She added that the increasing cost of essential items including car parking and petrol were hitting many NHS workers particularly the numerous female staff members.

Tracy Norton, community stroke service rehabilitation assistant, said: It is about fairness the government are getting an 11 per cent rise and were not even getting one per cent.”

Conan Norton, Labour candidate for Bewdley, said: “I am here in support of Unison but also to send out a message to this government that the workers need the money but it is important to preserve the National Health Service for the young generations now.”

Tracy White, board manager of the New Haven mental health unit, came out to represent and support her team.

This first initial strike by Unison members will be followed by four days of short strike action from Tuesday October 14 to Friday October, 17.