GIVE US A BREAK

Ambulance staff poised to strike after they are driven to limit on rest times

- CHRIS MCCALL

FED-UP ambulance crews across Scotland have voted in favour of strike action following a longrunning dispute over rest breaks.

The frontline workers are prepared to walk out after warning their repeated inability to take breaks while on duty is putting patients, staff and other road users at risk.

Ambulance crews are entitled to breaks totalling 40 minutes in a 12-hour shift but are often being asked to work through after being called to emergencies.

The ballot by GMB Scotland, the largest union among Scottish Ambulance Service workers, saw 93 per cent of voters support strike action.

The union said overwhelming support for industrial action was no surprise given the failure to ease the Karen Léonard said: support for strike was not pressure on crews.

Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser in the ambulance service, said: "The failure to  ensure crews are properly rested has been an increasing cause of concern for years.

"Crews were once told it was because of Covid, now turnaround times at hospitals are being blamed. Enough is enough.