The new year could bring a fresh wave of strike action in the East Anglian region, the ambulance service has warned. Members of the GMB Union say the decision is “regrettable”, but with no meaningful talks on the horizon they have been left with no alternative.

The plan is for a 48-hour continuous strike, along with other health unions, as part of a pay dispute in the NHS.

The two day stoppage by GMB members in the ambulance service, should it go ahead, will commence at midday on January 29 and will continue until midday on January 31.

The joint health unions have announced further strike action for January 29 and this will be a 12-hour stoppage from 9am -9pm in NHS hospitals and this will be followed by a 24-hour stoppage in February.

The GMB will issue formal notices to all NHS employers, including ambulance services in the coming weeks.

GMB members took part in strike action in the NHS across England and Northern Ireland in October and November to demand that the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, meet with representatives from all the health unions to resolve the dispute.

Rehana Azam, GMB NHS national officer, said “The new year will bring a regrettable escalation of the strike action in the NHS in this pay dispute. GMB has been left with no alternative as Jeremy Hunt continues to act irresponsibly by sticking to an entrenched position of no meaningful talks with the health unions.”