'Use A&E in serious emergencies,' says Croydon's clinical leader ahead of junior doctor strikes next week
“Don’t wait if you feel unwell.” NHS urges people to come forward if they need urgent care ahead of major disruption as junior doctors begin second strike
Industrial action is expected to cause major disruption across the NHS next week as junior doctors in England prepare to hold their biggest-ever strike.
Taking place over four consecutive days, thousands of junior doctors in hospitals across the country are expected to walk out in an ongoing dispute between trade unions and the government over pay and working conditions. The 96-hour strike will start and end at 7am from Tuesday 11 April to Saturday 15 April.
Urging the public to contact NHS 111 if they are unsure about what health services they need, Dr Subhro Banerjee, Medical Director at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said:
“If you need medical help, don’t delay and go to 111.nhs.uk unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999. However, we know that our services are going to be exceptionally busy over the Bank Holidays and because of the timing and scale of the strike there will be longer waits and unavoidable delays for many of our patients needing non-urgent care.
“We will only cancel planned appointments where absolutely necessary, but we will be prioritising emergency treatment and critical care during the strike, with our senior consultants, nurses and support staff working night and day to keep our patients safe and cared for, whilst respecting the rights of our junior doctors to strike.”
Previous strike action by junior doctors over three days in March saw 175,000 hospital appointments disrupted across the NHS, including around 2,000 outpatient consultations and operations in Croydon. Despite the strikes, around 100 patients at Croydon University Hospital underwent urgent surgery and received vital cancer treatment.
As the strike on 11-15 April are over a longer period, a greater number of appointments are expected to be impacted. Croydon’s NHS is contacting patients affected to rearrange every appointment where necessary. If patients have not been contacted directly by telephone, letter and text, they are encouraged to attend their planned appointment as scheduled.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. Croydon University Hospital is prioritising all emergency treatment, critical care, maternity and neonatal care, as well as cancer clinics so that diagnosis and treatment for patients is not interrupted during the strikes on 11-15 April.
2. Patients needing medical help or advice are urged to visit NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) where trained advisors can help find the right services, or visit our website for further information with helpful resources. In addition, the NHS app offers 24/7 access to a range of NHS services all in one place.
3. For further information about how the NHS in Croydon is responding to the industrial action by junior doctors, please visit: www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk.
4. For media enquiries, please contact the Trust’s communications team on chs.comms@nhs.net. Outside of normal office hours and weekends, please call the Trust’s main switchboard on 020 8401 3000 and ask for the Press Officer On-Call.