The NHS is urging patients to seek medical care as normal as
resident doctors continue strike action over the weekend.
The latest round of industrial action is set to end at 6:59am on
Monday 13 April and NHS staff have been working tirelessly to
ensure as many services as possible are able to run during the
disruption.
This is the 15th set of strikes by resident doctors
and has come at a particularly difficult time on the back of the
long Easter weekend when it has been harder to fill rotas and
find cover. Hospitals have done all they can to manage disruption
but inevitably some appointments have needed to be rescheduled.
Patients should attend planned appointments unless they have been
contacted to reschedule.
GP practices, pharmacies, NHS 111 and urgent and emergency care
services will continue to be available during the last two days
of strike action.
Anyone who needs urgent but not life-threatening care should use
111 online in the first instance, where they will be directed to
the most appropriate service for their needs.
Patients with life-threatening emergencies should continue to
call 999 or attend A&E as normal.
Trusts have been working to protect priority treatments,
including urgent surgery and cancer care, wherever possible
during the strike period.
Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, National Clinical Director
for Critical and Perioperative Care at NHS England,
said: “Yet again staff across the NHS have responded
heroically to keeping patients safe and ensuring that people can
continue to get the care they need since the strikes began on
Tuesday.
“It has been particularly challenging to fill rotas off the back
of the Easter bank holiday weekend, and we are immensely grateful
to the staff who have gone above and beyond to provide cover so
that hospitals can weather the storm and limit disruption for
patients.
“The NHS remains open for you over the weekend, and patients
should continue to attend appointments unless they have been
asked to reschedule.
“As ever, please call 999 or come to A&E in an emergency, and
use 111 online first if you need urgent but not
life-threatening help.”
