Published on: 30 March 2026
NHS leaders have issued a call to think about where to seek help before heading to an Emergency Department or calling 999 ahead of the Easter bank holiday and industrial action by doctors.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is preparing for the Easter weekend, with Bank Holidays always a busy time.
It is also getting ready for six days of industrial action by the British Medical Association (BMA), which has announced resident doctors will strike. The action will run after the Bank Holiday weekend, from 7am on Tuesday, April 7, until just before 7am on Monday, April 13.
The Trust is making plans to make sure safe care continues to be offered while industrial action takes place.
It is also urging people to get ready for the Easter Bank Holiday by making sure they have enough prescription medication and a well-stocked medicine cupboard, when there will be reduced access to GP surgeries and pharmacies.
The STSFT emergency departments will remain open around the clock to help in anyone in an emergency.
Its community nursing services will run as usual, including the Care Coordination Hub.
Out-of-ours GP services will accessible across its communities. Surgeries have details in place to help, should an appointment be needed.
The Trust is urging people to make sure they get any repeat prescription requests in within the next couple of days. This will give surgeries time to handle these.
People are also reminded to make sure their medicine cabinets are well-stocked.
Sheena Fish is the Trust’s Lead Divisional Director.
She said:
"Our Emergency Departments are always very busy places and more so during the Bank Holidays. We’re expecting this to continue as the strike action takes place after the weekend.
"We will have safe levels of care available at our hospitals. But we always need to make sure we see those who are most seriously hurt or unwell first.
"That means anyone else could face a long wait and then still be told to go elsewhere for treatment.
"This is why we’re asking people to think carefully about where they should get help before they come to hospital.
"Some appointments might need to be rescheduled because of the industrial action but unless you hear otherwise, please still come in for your next visit."
Anyone who needs advice or to check where is the right place for their care can use NHS 111 Online as a first port of call. In an emergency, they should call 999 or head for their nearest A&E.
Health advice and information is also available via the NHS App or the NHS website or a patient’s GP practice website, which link to a range of online services.
In most cases, people can order repeat prescriptions online. Opening hours for over the weekend can be found through this page: Think pharmacy first
For children’s health advice people can download the Little Orange Book, which offers tips about a wide range of illnesses and conditions. It can be downloaded by clicking here: Little Orange Book
Those looking after children can also visit the Healthier Together website through or can download the app via their phone.
British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.
Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay. More details are available via https://999bsl.co.uk/
If you are concerned about how much you, or someone you know, drinks, there’s lots of help available.
Speak to your GP, find your local alcohol support service, or contact Drinkline on freephone 0300 123 1110 or Alcoholics Anonymous on 0845 769 7555.
