Royal Surrey calls for local community support | News

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is asking people to be prepared for high demand upon health services during the Easter bank holiday weekend and disruption throughout the period of proposed junior doctors’ strikes (11-15 April) that immediately follows.

The Trust is appealing to the local community to ‘help us, help you’ by recognising that there is likely to be disruption and pressure on services, using the right health service if they are unwell and being patient if they do need to come to hospital.

The BMA and HCSA have announced junior doctors’ strikes running from 06:59 on Tuesday 11 April until 06:59 on Saturday 15 April. This is four days of strikes coming immediately after a four-day bank holiday weekend. The days leading into and immediately after bank holiday weekends are already challenging for the NHS.

Dr Bill Jewsbury, Royal Surrey’s Medical Director, said: “Previous action by junior doctors saw approximately 28k staff off nationally due to industrial action. These strikes also come after the added pressures of a bank holiday and at a time when relatively high levels of staff are on pre-booked annual leave due to school Easter holidays. We are anticipating a very challenging period.

“As we have seen with previous industrial action, disruption is inevitable, however, it is vital that people do not put off seeking care and dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency and come forward for treatment using 111 online for non-life threatening care, as well as local pharmacies or General Practice.”

During strike action, the Trust is prioritising and redirecting resources to protect critical services, which include urgent and emergency treatment, inpatient and intensive care, trauma, maternity, neonatal and urgent cancer services.

To help ensure care is available to patients who need it most, Royal Surrey is asking the local community to:

• Familiarise yourself with the right health service for different care needs – including pharmacies, GPs and local Minor Injuries Units – and use the most appropriate one for your needs. If you are unsure about where to go, visit NHS 111 online.

• Only use the Emergency Department (A&E) or call 999 if it is an emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. More information about ‘When to go to A&E’ is available on the NHS website.

• Take simple steps to look after yourself, loved ones and check in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.

Redirecting resources to critical services does mean that some outpatient appointments and elective surgeries planned for next week have been rescheduled. The Trust is contacting patients affected directly and advising patients to continue to attend appointments unless they are contacted and told otherwise.

GP practices will continue to be open during the junior doctors’ strike. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.