Local NHS braces for disruption due to consultant strikes ahead of bank holiday Monday
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust are preparing for the consultant doctor and hospital-based dentists strike ahead of the upcoming bank holiday.
The strike action will take place on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August. During the two days of action, both BMA and BDA have advised that consultants will provide ‘Christmas Day’ cover, meaning they will continue to provide all emergency services but routine services will be impacted.
Advice for the public has not changed – people should use 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns. GP services and pharmacies are also available for patients and can be accessed in the usual way.
Patients are also reminded that if you haven’t been contacted or informed that your planned appointment has been postponed, please attend as normal.
Dr Timothy Ho, Medical Director, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The days leading into and immediately after bank holiday are already challenging for the NHS, and the two-day consultant strike is taking place ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
“First and foremost, we aim to keep people safe during the planned strikes. Hospital services will be particularly affected, and we will redirect available resources to protect emergency treatment, intensive care, new-born care, maternity, and trauma. In outpatients and theatres, we will continue to prioritise cancer treatments, and those patients who have waited the longest for elective procedures.
“In contrast to strike action among other staff groups, no other clinicians can provide cover for consultants, so any planned care delivered by junior doctors or other healthcare professionals that requires even remote consultant supervision will need to be rescheduled.
“Routine appointments may be rescheduled. If you have not been contacted by the Trust, we would advise that you attend your appointment as planned, but please continue to check for updates.”
General practice, community pharmacies, and dentistry are open, and the public should continue to access these services as needed on strike days.
Dr Lalitha Iyer, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Frimley ICB, said: “There are steps we can all take to make sure we use the most appropriate service for our needs and ensure that help can be prioritised to those who need it most.
“It’s very important that people who need medical care come forward, especially when someone has a life-threatening illness or injury. A range of services are available to ensure Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) are freed up to treat those with life-threatening and critical illnesses or injuries. Care for life-threatening or serious illness/injury will be prioritised.
“If you are unwell or injured, it’s important to choose the right service to make sure you get the best treatment as quickly as possible.
“Your General Practice and local pharmacies are open during the period of the strike, so please continue to use these services as normal. If you are unsure of what service to choose, visit NHS 111 online https://111.nhs.uk . It includes a symptom checker and can connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or book you into the local Minor Injuries Unit in Bracknell or A&E department if your condition is more serious.
“As well as being booked in via NHS 111 you can also walk in to the Bracknell Minor Injury Unit for things such as sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs, minor head injuries and minor scalds and burns. The service is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. X ray is available Sundays to Fridays.
“If your child is unwell, and you’re not sure where the best place to go for advice is, visit the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website or download the app. Designed by local experts, it provides support to parents and carers to help them manage a range of common childhood illnesses. https://frimley-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/”
There are steps we can all take to make sure we use the most appropriate service for our needs to support our busy health services. Visit our Choose the Right Service page for details of local services.
Ahead of the bank holiday residents are reminded to ensure medication and repeat prescriptions are ordered and collected early as GP surgeries and most pharmacies will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, and services are likely to be busy in the week.
People can order prescriptions in their usual way and the NHS App also enables patients to request repeat prescriptions too.
Yousaf Ahamad, Frimley ICS Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines Optimisation, said: “Taking your regular prescribed medication is an important part of treatment for those with long-term health problems such as asthma and diabetes. People can be seriously ill if they run out of medicines and may need to be admitted to hospital, which can be avoided by ordering your prescription early.
“Community pharmacies are a key member of the NHS family, staffed by pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and their teams, who are qualified and regulated healthcare professionals and who can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for minor illnesses as well as provide a range of NHS services.
“Although some pharmacies may be closed on the Bank Holiday Monday, they can still be a great place to get clinical advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains. If symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they will ensure you get the help you need.”
Details of local pharmacy opening times over the Bank Holiday.
It is also worth checking your general medicine cabinet to make sure it is well-stocked with essentials such as paracetamol, cough and cold remedies, hay fever medicines, and plasters and bandages. These can all be bought cheaply from supermarkets or pharmacies.