Doctors across the NHS will be taking part in strike action next week.
And for the first time in NHS history, junior doctors and consultants are taking industrial action on the same day.
On Tuesday and Wednesday (19 and 20 September), there will be a Christmas Day level of service for consultants’ industrial action. Junior doctors will work on Tuesday as usual, then move to a Christmas Day cover level for 24 hours from 7am on Wednesday. From 7am on Thursday (21 September), junior doctors’ action moves to striking with no cover for the following 48 hours.
We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum. Our focus is on providing safe care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals.
While not all our hospital doctors will go on strike, patients may notice fewer consultants and junior doctors on our wards over the coming days. Our nursing team and therapists will continue to care for everyone alongside the doctors who do not go on strike.
We will be reducing the number of appointments we have planned on the strike days to make sure we have safe levels of staff across all services. You’ll be contacted if your appointment needs to be changed, so please turn up as usual if you are not contacted. We know how disappointing it will be for patients who have their appointments rescheduled. We are very sorry and will rearrange the appointments as quickly as possible.
If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999 or go to A&E.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is happening?
Trade unions representing some NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over pay. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action.
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. If you do not have internet access then the 111 helpline is available. When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999.
What if I have an appointment on a strike day?
Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned unless we contact you to reschedule. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment.
I have a loved one who will be a hospital inpatient on strike day – how will their care be affected?
All hospital inpatients will be informed of how their care will be impacted on a ward-by-ward basis by the staff involved in delivering their care.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a text, phone call or a letter and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
If my appointment is rescheduled, will I be put back to the bottom of the waiting list?
Any appointments that need to be rescheduled will be done so as a priority.
Is there anything I should do now?
No, the NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?
No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum. Our focus is on providing safe care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals.
We will be reducing the number of appointments we have planned on the strike days to make sure we have safe levels of staff across all services. You’ll be contacted if your appointment needs to be changed, so please turn up as usual if you are not contacted. We know how disappointing it will be for patients who have their appointments rescheduled. We are very sorry and will rearrange the appointments as quickly as possible.
If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999 or go to A&E.
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