Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are due to take part in industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 20 December until 7am on Saturday 23 December. We are anticipating that our hospitals and Emergency Departments are going to be very busy and are therefore asking people to help us help you, by choosing the right service.
Junior doctors will go on strike again in the new year from 7am on Wednesday 3 January until 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This will be the longest walkout in NHS history.
During a further period of inevitable disruption, patient safety remains our absolute priority.
Therefore, we continue to work with partners across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight health and care system to ensure that people who require access to services receive care and treatment in as timely a way as possible. Your local NHS will support you to get the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
If you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do, visit 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. Urgent Treatment Centres and pharmacies are equipped to deal with minor injuries, such as cuts or sprains. Please only go to a hospital’s Emergency Department for life-threatening accidents and emergencies. Details of pharmacies and Urgent Treatment Centres can be found here.
Patients with appointments booked on strike days will be contacted by the NHS if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action. If you have not been contacted, you should attend your appointment as planned.
You can also download the Healthier Together app for advice if you have children or carer responsibilities. The app can help you decide whether you can self-care at home or if you need help, which service is best for the needs of children aged up to 18. It also provides advice and guidance for pregnant women.
Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that 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.
Dr Tim Cooper, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board said:
“We are asking you to help your local NHS by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after yourselves, your loved ones and to check in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
“No one should put off seeking urgent care in an emergency during the strike action, however we are urging people to only attend our Emergency Departments if it is a life or limb threatening situation.
“There are a number of alternative services including pharmacies, urgent treatment centres (UTCs), Healthier Together and 111 online. By using one of these alternative services, it allows our teams in our emergency departments to attend to those patients who urgently need care and attention.
“If you have an appointment during the industrial action, then please continue to attend as planned unless you have been contacted to reschedule.
“We are working closely with our partners across the counties to plan, prepare and mitigate the potential impact and patient care remains our top priority. We are working hard to ensure that we continue to deliver the best level of care possible.”