People urged to support the NHS ahead of the joint consultant and junior doctor strike
Junior doctors and consultants in England are taking joint strike action from 7am 2 October – 7am 5 October, with NHS leaders warning the impact will be very challenging for local services.
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Frimley Health NHS Foundation are grateful to people for their support during the several periods of industrial action seen so far this year, and is calling on the public to give support again to ensure local communities, patients, families, and carers are provided with provide high quality NHS care.
The British Medical Association has stated that there will be a Christmas day level of service for Consultants’ industrial action. This means emergency departments will still be open and supported by consultants, but disruption and longer waits should be expected. NHS England and the BMA both wish to ensure that patients remain safe while junior doctors and consultants are taking lawful industrial action.
NHS leaders are warning the impact of these strikes will be very challenging for local services. That’s why, people are being urged to continue to support the NHS during the strike by using the right health service to meet their needs and help to ensure emergency care is available for those in most need.
General practice, community pharmacies, and dentistry are open, and the public should continue to access these services as needed on strike days.
Local people are being asked to take the following actions:
- Choose the most appropriate NHS service for needs and only use 999 and A&E or Emergency Departments for serious or life-threatening emergencies.
- For anything that isn’t a life-saving emergency, use an alternative NHS service and to use NHS 111 first either online or by phone.
- 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
- Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge, Bracknell, RG12 9RT is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm – no appointment needed you can walk in. You can search for your nearest minor injury unit or urgent care service here: Find Urgent Care services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- If you are feeling worried about your mental health there are number of services available, visit Mental Health Support | Frimley Health and Care
If you are in a mental health crisis, call 111 or text Shout to 85258. Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
- Know it may take longer than expected to be seen and treated.
- Collect family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged.
- To stay away from hospitals if showing the symptoms of flu or COVID-19 (or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19), unless it is an emergency.
Dr John Seymour, Deputy Medical Director, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are grateful to people for their support during the recent periods of industrial action, and these latest strikes will again have a difficult impact, with almost all routine care being affected and many planned care appointments needing to be rescheduled.
“All health and care partners are working together and we are planning as much as we can but we are concerned as this round of industrial action will see both junior doctors and consultants taking action over a number of days.
“We are working closely with partners to ensure we prioritise urgent and emergency care for patients, but we do need the public to continue to support us and use the right health service to meet their needs.
“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.”
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 to the Minor Injury Unit you can also walk in 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.