Overcrowded wards, overworked doctors and overburdened emergency services: the UK’s NHS health system is on the ground. Chronically underfunded, the country’s former pride has long since become an emergency room case itself. The nursing and hospital staff are emphatically demanding a substantial wage increase – which the government has so far refused. Strikes have already taken place and the next massive strike is imminent – also in other sectors. The British army is now on site.
1,200 members of the armed forces will assist with health services and border surveillance over the holiday season, as the UK government announced this weekend. Among them are 600 military personnel who can drive ambulances. The measure is intended to ensure the safety of the population during the planned strikes by rescue workers on December 21 and 28. This is the “number one priority,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced in a statement.
Assistance deployment also at airports
Other military personnel should ensure that airports traveling around the holidays do not collapse despite a multi-day strike by border officials. Training for the army was already underway at some airports.
The unions are currently unable to reach an agreement with the British government in various sectors. They demand higher wages that do justice to the enormous price increases. The Conservative government, on the other hand, sees the workers’ demands as prohibitive given the tense economic situation.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
