Published on: 9 March 2023
The British Medical Association has announced that its junior doctors will take industrial action for 72 hours from 7am on Monday 13 March until 7am on Thursday 16 March. This is a national dispute between trade unions and the Government and is beyond the control of our trust.
The strike action will impact some of our services.
We are prioritising safely caring for patients who need it most. We will continue to provide urgent and emergency care services.
Unfortunately this will mean that we will have to reschedule some routine appointments and procedures. We will contact you directly if this affects you or someone you care for.
If you do not hear from us please attend your appointment as planned. We know that this will be frustrating. We are doing everything we can to minimise the disruption to patients. We will be in touch as soon as possible to rearrange all appointments as a priority.
If you have a non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, use 111.nhs.uk, which is available 24 hours a day. You can also contact your local community pharmacist or GP practice.
For everyday illnesses and injury use the on-line symptom checker available at www.111.nhs.uk, which will re-direct to a health professional if you need to be seen by someone. Also self-care advice is available on-line from the NHS at www.nhs.uk.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening?
Trade unions representing NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over the 2022/2023 pay award. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action. This is the first round of action by the British Medical Association (BMA). Strike action is expected to take place from 7am on Monday 13 March until 7am on Thursday 16 March. This will include junior doctors from our Trust.
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
If you need urgent care you should use NHS111 online. The service will assess your needs and direct you to the right care. For serious, life-threatening illness or injury you should call 999 or go straight to your nearest emergency (A&E) department.
What if I have an appointment on strike days?
If you do not hear from us you should attend your appointment as planned. If you need to rearrange your appointment we will contact you directly. If your appointment is postponed and you were due to come to hospital using patient transport, please let them know.
Will emergency care be affected on strike days?
Emergency care will continue to be available across all parts of the country.
Will GP services be affected on strike days?
GP services will be running as normal on strike days. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
We will contact you directly if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a phone call, text or letter. We will prioritise rearranging your appointment as soon as possible.
If you don’t hear from us please attend your appointment as normal.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of the strikes?
No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. If you are not sure if your appointment is going ahead, please contact the clinic / department in your letter.
How long will services be impacted?
This is a continuous 72-hour strike which means industrial action will start at 7am on Monday 13 March and last until 7am on Thursday 16 March.
