PARAMEDICS across Hampshire could soon be on strike as staff from three south coast ambulance trusts are set to vote on industrial action.

GMB Union says cuts and shortages mean members feel they are unable to deliver safe standards of patient care.

It has now announced industrial action ballot dates for more than 15,000 workers across 11 trusts in England and Wales. 

Among those are South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), and South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST).

SCAS mainly covers four counties - Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire - and responds to 1,500 999 calls a day.

Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow.

The ballot opens on October 24 and closes on November 29, and any potential strike action could take place before Christmas. 

The strike ballots follow consultative votes across all the trusts in which workers voted strongly in favour of strike action. 

Workers are angry over the Government’s imposed four per cent pay award, which leaves them facing yet another massive real terms pay cut.   

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Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “Ambulance workers have just had enough. 

“They’ve not been on strike in decades, but they are at the end of what they can take. 

 “Pay has been systematically slashed for more than ten years and we now face the worst cost of living crush in a generation. 

"Meanwhile vacancies are at record highs and we have the worst A&E delays ever - and it’s not even the winter flu season yet. 

 “But this is about more than pay and conditions. Cuts and shortages mean GMB members feel they are unable to deliver safe standards of patient care. 

“Things can’t go on like this - something has to give.” 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are giving over 1 million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

“Industrial action is a matter for unions, and we urge them to carefully consider the potential impacts on patients.”