A union leader has defended ambulance workers who cross the picket line to attend 999 calls while paramedics complained of feeling "burnt out" and working 14 hours without a break.

West Midlands Ambulance Service announced yesterday that threat of life calls would still be attended while members of two unions went on strike today (December 21).

Unite leader Sharon Graham said crossing the picket line did not undermine strike action "at all" and said ambulances were being applauded because the protesters "want to be treating patients".

"Where I want them to be is treating patients so we have tried to do our best to make sure the patients do not suffer," she said.

"If there is a category one incident we are proud that they are going out to treat those patients who need critical help.

"I think what is really important to say here is that these are the workers, they are the NHS frontline workers that went out in the pandemic.

"Many workers in the NHS died during the pandemic because they had PPE, that wasn't suitable.

"The last thing they thought was going to happen when they came back to work was to take a pay cut."

Unite leader Sharon Graham said staff crossing the picket line did not undermine strike action

Around 1,000 West Midlands Ambulance staff have gone on strike today (December 21) with many stood outside the ambulance hub in Coventry.

Ms Graham said striking was the "last thing" members wanted to do, but said something needs to change to protect patients and staff.

"There is something drastically wrong with what is happening in our NHS," she added.

"Our members wanted to do anything but strike, nobody wanted to do this.

"What I am hoping is that the PM leads.

"He is getting paid to lead this country and he is hiding and hasn't been seen apart from in papers.

"Effectively, he needs to do his job and come back to the negotiating table and improve the conditions of these workers.

"If he doesn't do that there is no other option for these workers but to go on strike again no one wants that – we don't want it, the public doesn't want it and the PM doesn't want it."

Unite members said 'We are all completely burnt out and this is nothing new' (image via SWNS)

'This is nothing new'

Ambulance technician Ellie Griffin, 22, has worked for West Midlands Ambulance service for three-and-a-half years and earns £27,000.

She said: "I know people are worried about us standing on the picket line and the number of deaths that'll occur.

"But ultimately the number of deaths that will happen today doesn't even equate to the number of deaths we had a couple of weeks ago down to delays and hospital queues.

"It's a horrible situation to watch your patient deteriorate in the back of your ambulance and we can only intervene so far.

"A lot of these patients need to be seen by doctors and they are not getting there in time.

"We are all completely burnt out and this is nothing new and has been going on since the start of Covid."