Armed forces personnel could drive ambulances and take on frontline roles in hospitals as part of contingency plans to deal with possible strike action in the National Health Service (NHS).
Government officials are drawing up plans to use the army, according to extensive reports in the British press, as paramedics and ambulance drivers consider joining the nurses' strike in the coming months.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which is the nurses' trade union body, confirmed on Friday that its members in around half the NHS will strike on 15 and 20 December in a dispute over their pay.
Unions for ambulance drivers, paramedics, cleaners, catering staff and junior doctors are also preparing to vote and strike action.
Reacting to the reports, Business Secretary Grant Saps said the government has "no immediate plans" for the army to intervene to help the NHS during the winter strikes.
The whole country is suffering from continuous strikes in different sectors such as postal services, education and transport.
Source: ertnews.gr
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