Healthcare Strikes - What's the Latest NHS Advice?

With strikes by healthcare staff ongoing in various parts of the country, including Lambeth, we want to keep you updated on the latest advice. At the time of writing, strikes by the following unions/bodies are as follows: 

• 14,15,16 March – BMA, HCSA, BDA (junior doctors and junior hospital dentists)

• 20 March – GMB and Unite (ambulance staff)

• 24 March – GMB (healthcare workers at small number of NHS Trusts)

• Junior Doctor's strike 11-15 April

• 17 April - GMB (healthcare workers at small number of NHS Trusts)

With at least some of these strikes now going ahead, here is the latest advice from the NHS: 

• During strike action we will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only cancel appointments and procedures where it is necessary and will reschedule immediately, where possible.
• Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and lifethreatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
• If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
• Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
• GP services are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
• The NHS is asking patients to use services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
• If you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.
• Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
• Patients should take advice from 111/999 call-handlers on whether there are circumstances where it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.
• There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during industrial action, with the NHS prioritising those with life-threatening needs. As a result patients whose conditions are not life-threatening may not get an ambulance on strike days.
• During strike days, there is an expectation 999 services will be exempt; however, it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy. NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff, with longer call response times expected across the system. As a result, we are urging anyone with non-urgent care needs to first seek help from NHS 111 online.
• The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.