North East Ambulance Service has provided an update following the period of planned industrial action on 11 January
The Unison and GMB unions took part in second period of action over the course of 11 January over a dispute with the Government over the 2022/23 pay award.
Chief operating officer at North East Ambulance Service, Stephen Segasby said: “Yesterday was an incredibly challenging day for our service. A significant number of staff took action and our services were greatly reduced as a result.
"However, our staff continued to respond to calls that were clinically urgent and that allowed us to quickly reach those who were in need of us.
“We received fewer 999 calls yesterday and we thank the public enormously for using our service wisely so that we could reach those most in need.
“Time spent in handovers at hospital was also significantly lower and we thank our acute hospital partners for all of their support because it meant that we could respond to patients waiting in the community quickly.
“Our wider NHS service also gave us huge support to help triage, treat and signpost patients in the community to minimise the impact on our services.
“Thanks also to our third-party providers, volunteers and staff who helped to keep the service available to respond to patients with life threatening conditions.
“We are now in a period of recovery and it’s important that we continue to protect our service so that we can reach those in greatest need of our help and we ask that the public continue to consider which is the best service for their needs and only call 999 in a life or limb threatening emergency.”