THOUSANDS of ambulance workers will go on strike for a second time tomorrow after the government stubbornly refused to tackle the pay crisis.

Ambulance staff across England took to the picket lines in their continuing fight for justice, after their unions had agreed levels of emergency cover with local managers.

GMB, which represents more than 10,000 ambulance workers, are striking at nine NHS ambulance service trusts in England and Wales.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff are taking part.

Fruitless talks have brought no solution to the dispute, while Business Secretary Grant Shapps came under fire after attacking ambulance workers in the Commons, falsely accusing them of refusing to provide emergency cover during today’s stoppages.

“This is an extraordinary attack on ambulance workers by Mr Shapps,” said a GMB spokesman.

“He surely knows that across NHS trusts, GMB members who care for the public every single day, work closely with employers to provide appropriate cover on strike days and have left picket lines to help out on urgent calls.

“The public know who is to blame for the crisis in our NHS — this government. And, people will be disgusted that in a matter of months, they have gone from clapping health workers to legislating to sack them.”

GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said that only a ”concrete offer” from the government would end the dispute.

“The public expects the government to treat this dispute seriously — it’s time they got on with it.

“To end this dispute, GMB needs a concrete offer to help resolve the NHS’s crushing recruitment and retention crisis.”

Unison ambulance staff are striking at five ambulance services: London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Health workers are stretched beyond breaking point. 

“They don’t need lecturing on providing safe patient care by a government that’s spent the past decade starving the health service of funding and underpaying staff.

“Regardless of what Grant Shapps might say, Unison has worked hard to secure patient safety during strikes, and that will continue.

“In fact, ambulance employers praised the union for the role it played in drawing up local emergency cover plans in December. 

“Last time, staff didn’t hesitate to leave picket lines when someone’s life was in danger.

“Ministers should be putting all their energies into solving the NHS dispute, not worsening relations with health workers.”