NHS strikes: Why are nurses and ambulance staff taking industrial action?
Some NHS nurses and ambulance staff are set to take part in further strikes in January.
re taking action over pay, which has not kept up with rising prices.
Nurses
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced strike dates on 18 and 19 January. It says they will take place at more locations in England than previous strikes.
RCN in Scotland is also expected to announce strike dates for early 2023. Its members rejected a pay deal which would have seen the average salary rise by 7.5%. 
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members in Scotland also rejected the deal.
Ambulance staff 
Some ambulance staff in England will stage two further strikes, on 11 and 23 January. Unison said the action would affect London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West.
A strike by GMB members on 28 December has been cancelled. Its members will now strike on 11 January instead.
Nurses
Life-preserving treatment must be provided. All nurses in intensive and emergency care are expected to work. 
Anyone who is seriously ill or injured should still call 999, or 111 for non-urgent care.
Other services, such as some cancer treatments, may be partially staffed.
Routine care, such as knee and hip replacements, is likely to be badly affected.
Nurses could be pulled off picket lines to work if there are safety concerns.
Ambulance staff
remains to call 999 in an emergency.
who have a fall, or suffer other non-life-threatening injuries are unlikely to receive 999 care. Some NHS trusts are urging people to use their own transport, or take a taxi to hospital.
Nurses 
Royal College of Nurses (RCN) is calling for a 19% pay rise.
government says this is unaffordable:
Without any deal, there will be further strikes on 18 and 19 January. The RCN has about 300,000 members - roughly two-thirds of NHS nurses.
Ambulance staff 
want above-inflation pay rises, but have not announced a figure. 
Unions argue that any offer needs to be high enough to prevent a recruitment crisis. In Scotland, two unions have accepted an improved pay offer of 7.5%.
UK government says pay rises for ambulance workers and nurses were decided by independent pay review bodies.
rting salary for a nurse is England is just over £27,000 a year. This is the bottom of pay band five of the NHS contract, known as Agenda for Change.
Staff such as healthcare assistants, porters and cleaners are on lower pay bands.
Under the contract, staff are entitled to in-the-job increases within their pay band.
A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000 - the top end of pay band five. 
Specialist nurses can make up to £47,000.
most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000. 
rage earnings for ambulance staff in England were £46,643, figures from NHS Digital for April 2021 to March 2022 show.
Of this, £13,854 came from extra payments for things like shift work and overtime.
Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - had average pay of £29,139, of which £7,842 came from extra payments.