A paramedic had said his family is “on the breadline” as striking ambulance workers picket outside Waterloo Ambulance Station.
Another ambulance worker who has worked for 37 years, said the situation was “the most difficult” he had ever seen.
Thousands of call handlers, paramedics, drivers and technicians are today (Monday, January 23) walking out, demanding improved pay and conditions.
Outside Waterloo Ambulance Station, the depot from which ambulances serve much of Southwark, workers gathered from 11am.
Father-of-two, Eddie Brand, 57, an emergency medical technician told the News: “Things are dreadful at the moment. I’ve been in it for 37 years and it’s probably the most difficult time we’ve had.”
This is the third time ambulance workers have walked out in five weeks after talks with Health Secretary Steve Barclay collapsed earlier this month.
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“Ministers know unless they come up with some hard cash for a pay boost for what’s left of the current financial year, there can be no resolution to the dispute,” she said.
Striking workers are also demanding government solve the social care crisis which sees hospital beds filled with patients who are ready to be discharged because care homes have no space.
Eddie said: “The call-outs are higher than we’ve ever had and with the problems in the hospital where we’re unable to unload.”
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He said new paramedics are already looking for new jobs because they’re angry that they’ve “trained at university for three years to stand in a corridor”.
He said the government should invest in more health centres to free up beds for patients.
Father-of-three and team manager Murray Smith, 50, said: “I’ve been in the job for a long time and we’ve gone many years without a pay rise.”
He said he was striking “for his family”. “With the cost of living, everything has gone up but wages haven’t… you’re on the breadline… it can be very difficult,” he said.
His colleague Eddie earns £42,000 a year having worked for almost four decades and reached the top of his band.
He questions how young people can afford to live on significantly lower wages. The basic starting salary for paramedics is £27,055.
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“I’m stuck here now. If I was young I would have looked elsewhere… I feel sorry for the youngsters,” Eddie said.
Asked if he’d leave the profession he said: “It’s ingrained in me. I still love and enjoy doing the job but we need to be allowed to do it properly.”
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