MEMBERS of the public in Warrington and Halton are being urged to use NHS 111 Online for all non-emergency healthcare needs during a prolonged period of “unprecedented” strike action involving junior doctors and hospital consultants which starts this Thursday (July 13).
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a five-day, 120-hour, walkout of junior doctors from 7 am on Thursday 13 July until 7am on Tuesday 18 July.
This action will be followed by a 48-hour strike by hospital consultants from 7 am on Thursday 20 July to 7 am on Saturday 22 July. Consultants will provide a ‘Christmas Day’ level of cover as a minimum throughout this period.
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals (WHH) along with all NHS trusts across Cheshire and Merseyside is set to be severely impacted by these strikes. The public are being advised that significant service disruption is highly likely.
WHH Executive Medical Director, Dr Paul Fitzsimmons said: “We are planning for a particularly challenging period. Our focus is on ensuring critical care and emergency services remain available to those in most urgent need and that those patients on our wards during industrial action remain safe throughout.
“Industrial action of this scale and duration is unprecedented and sadly there will be an impact for some of our patients as it will be necessary to postpone some appointments and procedures. Longer waits for urgent and emergency care should also be expected.
“We will do all we can to reschedule any missed appointments as soon as possible. Patients who are not contacted directly by the trust should continue to attend for appointments as planned.
“The public can also help us by using health services responsibly and appropriately. This means going to NHS 111 Online for advice and seeking help from pharmacies, and urgent treatment centres for non-emergency care.”
NHS 111 Online can ensure that patients are signposted to the right service. The online service works the same as over the phone and is already popular with people who want quick advice about the best options for getting the care they need. These can include a call back from a trained clinician or nurse, an appointment in A&E or other advice.
Urgent and emergency care services will remain open during industrial action and in the event of an emergency people should always call 999.
More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
For more information on Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals services during the planned industrial action, please check www.whh.nhs.uk or follow on the Trust’s social media channels.
For information on the position across health services in Cheshire and Merseyside please visit
https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/posts/nhs-industrial-action/
