NHS staff and ambulance workers could be about to vote for a strike in the South West.

The South Western Ambulance and Allied Health (SWAAHB) branch of Unison has revealed that issues over a 'real-terms pay cut' and the growing pressures of the job are the reason's why. 

It also added that it is being approached by staff members who want to reduce their hours or hand in their resignation more now than it ever has been before. 

It claimed that ambulance queues at hospitals were so bad, reaching up to 10 hours at some hospitals, that some paramedics in the area had reported only seeing four patients in four shifts. 

In a post on Facebook, a spokesperson for Unison SWAAHB said: "The government has announced a £1,400 pay award for NHS staff. This announcement is over 3 months late and falls far short of inflation. That makes it another real-terms pay cut.

"The government had a chance to put NHS pay right so that the service could keep desperately needed staff and attract new ones. But it has chosen not to act."

In a subsequent post, Unison claimed that the last few days had been 'exceptionally bad outside the South West's hospitals.'

"Our members have been telling us of waits in excess of 10 hours on most arriving ambulances at some hospitals.

"More and more members are asking us about part-time hours and resignation notice periods than ever before as the anxiety and stress caused by these systemic delays has made them rethink their careers.

"Imagine paying a university £36k to train as a paramedic and in four shifts you see just four patients... That’s what a newly qualified paramedic was telling our branch this week.

"The system is broken but is it repairable?"

Consequently, Unison is now preparing to ballot all of its members in the NHS and says it will encourage them to take industrial action. 

The spokesperson added: "These preparations will include building up member and public support so that as many of you as possible feel informed and confident about taking part and voting for action in the ballot. We will publish further information soon."

The cost of living crisis has exacerbated a number of pay issues across public sector industries, with teachers, Royal Mail postal workers, airport staff, bus drivers and train drivers and station staff all striking across the country recently.