Do YOU support the striking NHS ambulance workers? Vote here and tell us why... trends now
Do YOU support the striking NHS ambulance workers? Vote here and tell us why...
Support the strikes 0 votes Do not support the strikes 0 votes Don't know 0 votesNow share your opinion
NHS paramedics and emergency call handlers returned to the picket lines today in an ongoing protest over pay.
Up to 25,000 ambulance staff will take part in the coordinated chaos, which follows similar walk-outs that took place days before Christmas.
Even more strikes are on the way, with another round of industrial action pencilled in for January 23.
MailOnline app users can vote in the poll by clicking here.
Today's disruption was organised by the unions GMB and Unison, who have demanded the Government coughs up millions to pay workers more amid the cost-of-living crisis.
But ministers have so far refused to budge on their stance, prompting fury among hardline union bosses.
It has only offered 4 per cent, equivalent to around £1,400.
There is hope, however, that staff could be given a bigger rise in the upcoming pay review. It may also be backdated until this month, in an effort to appease strikers.
Unions argue that low pay is forcing staff to leave the health service, exacerbating long standing staffing issues and contributing to worsening ambulance response times.
NHS data showed that ambulances record delays when handing over patients to A&E departments in the week to January 1. More than a quarter (18,720) were forced to queue for more than 60 minutes before handing over their patients to A&E (shown in graph)
Graphic shows the average response times for Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 calls to ambulance services across England (left), and, right, the average response time for each call (red) compared to the target response time (blue) across all services
Graphic showing the average time it takes for ambulance services across England to pick up 999 calls
