Consultation outcome

Minimum service levels in event of strike action: ambulance services

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Impact assessment - minimum service levels in event of strike action: ambulance services

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Detail of outcome

We analysed a total of 150 responses to the online consultation and further detailed feedback from employers, trades unions, charities and other representative groups received in writing and as part of 4 interactive consultation workshops.

Overall, the consultation showed that while most respondents (76%) disagreed with the principle of introducing legislative minimum levels of service (MSL) in the ambulance service, many of them recognised there were issues and risks associated with the existing approach to agreeing derogations on a voluntary basis.

Having carefully considered the consultation responses and weighed the concerns raised in the consultation with the risk to life and health that strike action in the ambulance service brings, the government has decided to introduce MSLs in ambulance services.


Original consultation

Summary

DHSC is seeking views on minimum service levels in England, Scotland and Wales during passage of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill to ensure that patient safety is protected.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

Due to required changes to some questions, the closing date has been extended so the consultation remains open for 12 weeks.

Survey responses given before 14 February will still be considered in the government response. However, if you want to respond again to the updated survey, select the ‘Respond online’ link below.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking views during passage of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on, subject to Parliamentary approval, introducing regulations on minimum service levels in England, Scotland, and Wales to support minimum service levels in the health service during strike action to protect patient safety.

The UK government has announced its intention to consult on the application of minimum service levels for rail, ambulance and fire services. In health, our intention is that minimum service levels would protect the ability of workers to strike while protecting life and health. This consultation will help to inform a decision as to what health services should be covered in regulations. Our proposal is that ambulance services should be covered in regulations as a priority. This consultation will help to inform a decision as to whether ambulance services should be covered and if so the detail regarding the minimum service levels required in the ambulance service.

The target audience is:

  • the general public
  • trade unions
  • NHS ambulance service employers
  • other NHS and health service employers
  • representative organisations and professional bodies
  • all workers within ambulance and health services

Documents

Minimum service levels in event of strike action: ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales - impact assessment

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Published 9 February 2023
Last updated 6 November 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added the government response, impact assessment and equality impact assessment to the consultation.

  2. Added a link to the consultation in Welsh.

  3. Added the impact assessment.

  4. The online survey has reopened. Updated the consultation document to add a question on how far respondents agree or disagree with the proposed introduction of minimum service levels for ambulance services in the NHS, to amend wording on current arrangements on strike days and to add 'None of the above' and 'Don't know or prefer not to say' answer options to some questions.

  5. Updated to say that the online survey is temporarily unavailable as changes are made to the survey questions.

  6. First published.