GMB union to consider up to six more ambulance strike dates after failed talks with health secretary
The GMB union will meet ambulance representatives on Monday to discuss up to six more strike dates, Sky News understands.
It comes after talks with Health Secretary Stephen Barclay failed to reach an agreement earlier this week.
Yesterday, about 25,000 ambulance workers across England and Wales went on strike in a dispute with the government over pay.
Staggered walkouts by paramedics, call handlers, drivers and technicians from the Unison and GMB unions took place over a 24-hour period.
Union leader brands talks with minister a ‘complete farce’ – politics latest
NHS England warned that some people would have to make their own way to hospital.
While members of the armed forces and private providers were once again drafted in to help cover services, as was the case during the first strike day on 21 December.
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, has warned that strike action can lead to “pent-up demand” in the days after walkouts.
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More strikes are scheduled, with nurses due to walk out next Wednesday and Thursday, and another ambulance strike the week after, on 23 January.
Despite no deal being reached following the talks with Mr Barclay on Monday, the health secretary did agree to look into a suggestion to backdate next year’s NHS pay deal to this January.
But it is understood representatives of the GMB union are set to meet again next week to discuss whether industrial action should escalate.
It comes as new NHS figures show ambulances in England took an average of one hour, 32 minutes and 54 seconds in December to respond to emergency calls such as burns, epilepsy and strokes – the longest on record and well above the target of 18 minutes.
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Ambulance response times worst on record
Strikes ‘in protest at unsafe care’
The figures for England also showed a record 54,532 people waited more than 12 hours in A&E departments last month from a decision to admit to actually being admitted.
And the proportion of patients seen within four hours in England’s A&Es fell to a record low of 65% in December.
Read more
Ambulance unions ‘put people’s lives at risk’ – Shapps
NHS strikes to go ahead after talks break down
Who is striking and when?
Responding to the latest NHS England performance data, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Today’s figures suggest this picture is only going to get worse. Hospitals are full, many patients face very long waits to be admitted from A&E and the waiting list for routine treatment remains sky high.
“The government has had months and months to address this but has not acted. They must row back on years of underinvestment in nursing, starting with an immediate pay rise.
“Nursing is saying enough is enough and standing up for their patients. Next week’s strikes are in protest at unsafe care.”
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Why is the NHS struggling so much?
Talks ‘collaborative’, not ‘confrontational’
Mr Barclay held further talks this morning with medical unions which were described as “constructive” by the chair of council at the British Medical Association (BMA).
Ahead of the discussions, the health secretary was urged by interim chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery to “come to the table and talk about pay”.
Speaking after the meeting, Professor Philip Banfield told reporters the tone of the meeting with Mr Barclay was “not confrontational” but “collaborative”.
“The secretary of state was a consummate politician in listening mode. It’s what happens next that’s the important thing.”
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Health secretary Steve Barclay: ‘We’re engaging’
Professor Banfield said doctors feel they have been “driven” to the point of considering strike action because “no-one is listening to us”.
“We’ve got about six weeks, haven’t we, to sit down and try and resolve the situation. None of our doctors want to strike, they would prefer that this was resolved before we got into that situation,” he said.
Others present at the talks were representatives of the hospital doctors’ union HCSA and the British Dental Association.
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The meetings came after 14 health unions announced that they will not be submitting evidence to the NHS pay review body for the next wage round while the current industrial disputes remain unresolved.
The 14 unions, representing more than one million ambulance staff, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and other NHS workers in England, said they believe the lengthy pay review body process is not able to deliver a deal that resolves the current pay and staffing dispute.
They have called for direct pay talks with ministers.
The government says most ambulance staff have received a pay rise of at least 4%.
UK
Family of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ as teen appears in court charged with murder
The family of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death have said she was a “beautiful soul” who was brave, kind-hearted and “always put a smile on people’s faces”.
Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria Thorpe had suffered a single stab wound.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute released by Avon and Somerset Police on Friday, the girl’s family on her mother’s side said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.”
Tom Thorpe, the girl’s father, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us.”
It comes as a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared in court.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
Aria was a ‘precious girl’
In their statement, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said her death “has devastated us beyond words”.
“Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible,” they added.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.”
They said they were “truly touched by the lovely messages we have received”, before asking “that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl”.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
‘Wacky ways and outright madness’
Mr Thorpe said: “How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
He then said that Aria was “such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul”, and “always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness”.
Mr Thorpe added: “Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you.
“We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
Teenager in court
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where he was remanded.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested in the Somerset village of Worle at 6.19pm on Monday.
He is next due in court on 16 March 2026. Appearing via video link from youth detention accommodation, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for 15 June during the hearing.
A teenager charged with the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe will stand trial in June next year.
The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
The defendant, who appeared via video link from youth detention accommodation, spoke only to confirm his name.
During a brief hearing, Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, set a provisional trial date for 15 June 2026.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Avon and Somerset Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare just before 6.10pm on Monday, where nine-year-old Aria had suffered a single stab wound.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time later.
His father was among those attending in the public gallery.
The teenager is next expected to appear in court on 16 March.
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