of the independent pay review body, which has put forward this a.75% offer on average to nhs staff, with a guaranteed minimum of £i,a00. the union said it is not enough, it needs to be at inflation or more because they have had successive pay freezes, which means workers have seen a real terms pay cut. both sides not budging from that position and no resolution in sight. and it is set against the backdrop of much wider industrial action, as we have been reporting for a few weeks. that is right and it is a big challenge for the government. the strikes really are only in the early phase of what could be a concerted period of industrial action. we have got the royal college of nursing saying that if the government does not shift, further action will be on the prime minister s shoulders. there is general strain that the economy is coming under. we have heard about rail strikes and in the health service, there will be border staff, the highways agency, baggage handlers and the rest. it is
to warn that it will be a very challenging period. they said medically fit patients should be moved out where it s safe to do so, and the turnaround of ambulances should be speeded up. members of unison, unite and the gmb will walk out in much of england, wales and northern ireland in a dispute about pay and staffing levels. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake told us more about the preparations for next week s walkouts. this letter going to hospitals across england urges them to get systems in place where they can effectively get patients in from ambulances to a&e and then on from there to the rest of the hospital and discharged as quickly as possible. the reason being is ambulances would then be able to get back on the road as quickly as possible. because there will not be as many, they will be overstretched or not able to respond to as many call outs as quickly as they normally would do. it all sounds perfectly well and good, but emergency doctors and other voices in the nhs
dispute will be resolved soon remains unclear. hospitals have been told to free up beds to ease the disruption caused by ambulance staff strikes. the warning letterfrom nhs bosses comes ahead of strike action by ambulance workers over a pay dispute, due to take place next wednesday the 21st and the 28th of december. a vigil has taken place for four young boys who died when they fell into a frozen lake in the west midlands last weekend. samuel butler, who was six, his eight year old brother, finlay, their cousin, thomas stewart who was 11 and 10 year old jackjohnson were discovered in icy waters at babbs mill park in solihull. natasha turney is there. hello, yes, it was a very emotional gathering today. this whole area here filled with nearing a thousand people who gathered to share in
absence of the rmt.- will offer that they re in the absence of the rmt. that is right, the anniversary absence of the rmt. that is right, the anniversary of absence of the rmt. that is right, the anniversary of the absence of the rmt. that is right, the anniversary of the strike - absence of the rmt. that is right, the anniversary of the strike is - the anniversary of the strike is coming up in a few days, the dispute has been going on for about a year. there is a year s back to had. it is a% from last year, a% next year plus a of other benefits. and we have also seen the white collar union accept the offer the rmt is regularly rejecting.- accept the offer the rmt is regularly rejecting. again, having interviewed regularly rejecting. again, having interviewed mick regularly rejecting. again, having interviewed mick lynch regularly rejecting. again, having | interviewed mick lynch yesterday, regularly rejecting. again, having - interviewed mick lynch yesterday, he would say i