Ambulance staff have followed nurses in announcing new strike dates over the coming weeks.

The ambulance strikes in England and Wales are scheduled to take place on 6 February, 20 February, 6 March and 20 March.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: “GMB’s ambulance workers are angry. In their own words ‘they are done’. 

“Our message to the government is clear – talk pay now. Ministers have made things worse by demonising the ambulance workers who provided life and limb cover on strike days – playing political games with their scaremongering.  

“The only way to solve this dispute is a proper pay offer. But it seems the cold, dead hands of the Number 10 and 11 Downing Street are stopping this from happening. 

“In the face of government inaction, we are left with no choice but industrial action.  

“GMB ambulance workers are determined, they’re not going to back down. It’s up for this government to get serious on pay. We are waiting.” 

NHS nurses announced earlier new strike dates on 6 and 7 February yesterday.

Life-threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest will continue to be responded to by ambulances but less urgent calls may to have to wait longer than usual.

The government has presented an anti-strike bill to the House of Commons which would leave unions at risk of legal action if they fail to provide minimum levels of coverage.

NHS Providers’ interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said: “Four more days of strikes by GMB ambulance staff will deal another blow to already overloaded health services. And now Unite is set to announce more ambulance strikes by its members.

“We understand the strength of feeling among NHS staff and nobody wants these strikes to happen. To stave off another wave of strikes and help the NHS the government must sit down with the unions urgently and address pay for the current financial year.

“Trusts plan and prepare for industrial action to support staff and do all they can to minimise the impact on patients and day-to-day business. But with incredibly high levels of A&E attendances and delays discharging patients from hospital beds, severely hampering overstretched ambulance services, things are likely only to get worse if these strikes go ahead.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Ambulance workers do an incredible job and it is disappointing some union members are going ahead with further strikes at a time when the NHS is already under huge pressure from Covid, flu and tackling the backlog.

“The health and social care secretary is continuing to have constructive discussions with unions about the 2023/24 pay review process and what is affordable and fair, including wider concerns around the cost of living, pay, conditions and workload.”