Responding to news that strike action by ambulance workers this week goes ahead, NHS Providers' interim deputy chief executive and director of policy and strategy Miriam Deakin said:

"Leaders across the NHS will understandably be very disappointed that Wednesday's strike by ambulance workers will go ahead after talks between the government and trade unions failed to tackle key issues, including pay, earlier today.

"Trust leaders understand why ambulance workers have been driven to take strike action.

"However, they also know that this strike will pile even more pressure on an already overstretched health service. Handover delays have increased and strain across the whole system has intensified since December's strikes.

"As with previous strikes, trust leaders will be working hard to put measures in place to minimise interruptions to patient services but they are anticipating another day of widespread disruption, including the possibility of thousands more appointments being rescheduled or cancelled and a knock on effect on services in subsequent days.

"It is vital that the government and trade unions get back around the table as soon as possible and do everything they can – including having meaningful talks on pay – to avert another round of damaging strikes."