By Ross Lydall
London Evening Standard
LONDON — A total of 1,200 soldiers are on standby to drive London ambulances under “major incident” procedures to maintain 999 services during next week’s NHS strike.
The military deployment - 10 times as big as that required during a four-hour walkout in November - is part of the unprecedented plans to cope with the 24-hour pay protest on Thursday.
Every London hospital is being asked to provide doctors and nurses as NHS England aims to find 400 medical staff to work as volunteer paramedics alongside the soldiers. Hundreds of Met police are also expected to assist with driving duties.
Read Full Story: Soldiers on standby to drive London’s ambulance’s during strike next week