Strike action by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), GMB and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) unions has been confirmed for February and March, which will affect services across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
We continue to work with partners across the health and care system in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and we are urging residents to use health services appropriately to ensure they receive the right care for their needs in as timely a way as possible. Patient safety remains our absolute priority.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are due to take part in industrial action on Monday 6 February and Tuesday 7 February in an ongoing dispute between unions and the Government over pay.
This is the third round of strike action by RCN members in recent months, with industrial action held in half of all provider organisations where a legal mandate was achieved on Thursday 15 December and Tuesday 20 December and on Wednesday 18 January and Thursday 19 January.
We are expecting RCN members employed by the following local organisations to participate in the industrial action due to take place on Monday 6 February and Tuesday 7 February:
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
GMB members at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) are also taking strike action on Monday 6 February. This will be the first occasion on which strike action has been co-ordinated with both GMB and RCN members.
Patients will continue to be prioritised according to clinical need, and any patients who have an appointment during the industrial action should continue to attend as planned unless they are contacted to reschedule.
Please help us keep Emergency Departments free for those who need them most. If you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do, visit 111 online at 111.nhs.uk.
Dr Lara Alloway, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for acute care for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board said:
“We are working closely with our partners across the county to plan, prepare and mitigate the potential impact on patients, communities and staff to ensure that services continue to run as smoothly as possible.
“Patient care remains our priority and we are working hard to ensure that we continue to deliver the best level of care possible. If you have an appointment during the industrial action you should continue to attend as planned unless you are contacted to reschedule.”
All partners continue to work very closely to manage the current pressures and are stepping up plans for the expected industrial action.