Ambulance services will continue to respond to incidents where this is a threat to life tomorrow (December 21), despite strike action two unions.

That is the message from West Midlands Ambulance Service ahead of strike action from members of Unite and GMB over pay disputes with the government.

Members of Unite will strike on 21 December from 6am to 5.59pm while GMB members will walk out from 0.01am to 11.59pm on the same day.

The service will respond to the most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests and where a crew request immediate back up at the scene of a case as well as strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.

Emergency services operations delivery director, Nathan Hudson, said: "In addition, staff in our non-emergency patient transport service will continue to convey vulnerable groups such as patients undertaking renal dialysis, cancer treatments, palliative care, emergency scans within the strike period timeframe.

"Only call 999 if you or the patient is critically unwell or there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate. 

"If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk), your local GP or pharmacy."

(Image by Makizox via wikimedia.commons)