Following a successful ballot, Junior doctors who are part of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) are expected to take strike action from Monday 13 March to Thursday 16 March. During this period we have taken steps to ensure that emergency care and cancer care continues, however some elective appointments may need to be cancelled.
If you have an appointment booked, please attend as planned, unless you have been contacted to reschedule your appointment.
As a local health and care system, we are working together to plan for this period and we are working closely with our staff to minimise any potential disruption to services.
During the planned industrial action next week we are encouraging residents to help the local NHS during what we expect to be a particularly busy time by following this advice:
- Patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
- Please use services wisely, including the use of 111 online or calling 111 as the first port of call for health needs and advice or calling 111 or visiting your local pharmacy
- People should only use 999 and A&E for serious or life-threatening conditions or medical emergencies (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk)
- Although the strike action is for 72 hours, patients should be aware that it may take slightly longer for services to return to normal.
Please see our frequently asked questions for the public.
