The Royal College of Nursing will be holding strike action from 8pm on 30 April to 11.59pm on 1 May, 2023. The RCN have confirmed that this strike will involve nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempt.
The RCN and Government are in dispute around the timing of these strikes, but for operational purposes the NHS must plan for strikes to go ahead.
The NHS and the Trust is working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only reschedule appointments and procedures where neccessary and will rebook immediately, where possible. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
Please help us to ensure our services are available for those who need them most. Please look at the alternative options available for accessing NHS services if your condition is not urgent.
- Please only use 999 or visit A&E in emergency and life-threatening cases.
- Advice is available from NHS 111 online at https://111.nhs.uk/. The online service can provide the same advice and help as the phone service. You will be directed to the best service for your needs if you're not sure what to do and a clinician call will call you back if needed.
- You can find self-care advice on www.nhs.uk.
- Consider using your local pharmacy for expert help and advice for every-day conditions.
- Online services are available, where you can request repeat prescriptions via the NHS app or your practice patient online service.
- There are a number of services available locally to help you such as your GP practice, Urgent Treatment Centres and pharmacies. You can find out more about these and which to use when at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/NHShealthwise.
- Pre-bookable, routine appointments are also available at evening and weekends thanks to the new enhanced access contract. You can access these appointments by speaking to the reception team at your GP practice.
- You can also ‘help us help you’ by ensuring you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having your autumn booster dose and your seasonal flu vaccination, if eligible.
It is essential that if you need urgent medical care that you continue to come forward – especially in emergency and life-threatening cases, when someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.
GP practices will not be impacted by these strikes - please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unles you are contacted and told otherwise.
There is also regularly updated information online from NHS England:
• NHS England » Information for the public on industrial action
