More NHS strikes to come over ‘pitiful’ pay award as government digs in

Ambulance workers to take further industrial action in January and nurses union also expected to keep up the pressure on ministers

The NHS is facing months of disruption early next year as health unions ramp up their campaign of strikes in protest against the government's pitiful" pay award and refusal to countenance improving it.

Ambulance services in England will be hit by two days of strikes on 11 and 23 January by members of Unison, and the union has decided that these stoppages will last for longer and involve more staff than this week's strike, as part of a deliberate escalation of its industrial action.