People in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being urged to continue to use health services appropriately to ensure they receive the right care for their needs in as timely a way as possible.
It comes as health and care services remain under significant pressure, and ahead of planned industrial action by Royal College of Nursing members on Wednesday 18 January and Thursday 19 January in a dispute between unions and the Government over pay.
This latest strike action is likely to have a bigger impact across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight compared to earlier strike action, since RCN members employed at the following trusts will be involved during the two-day period:
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
- Solent NHS Trust
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
This next industrial action follows the recent strikes by ambulance service GMB and Unison members on Wednesday 11 January. While some GMB members employed by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust took part in that action, the resultant impact across Hampshire and Isle of Wight was minimal.
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.