Use NHS wisely during consultant and junior doctor strikes

Local people are being urged to think carefully about which health service they should use during the first week of October, when both junior doctors and consultants will be on strike at the same time.

NHS leaders in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are expecting the NHS to be under immense pressure, as consultants and junior doctors take co-ordinated industrial action from 7am on Monday 2 October until 7am on Thursday 5 October.

Dr Nil Sanganee, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board said: “We are prioritising our resources to protect emergency treatment, including critical care, trauma, neonatal and maternity care, and to ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

“However, services will be busier than normal and our hospitals will under immense pressure, so please help us by choosing the right NHS service for your needs. If you have a medical problem that is not critical or life-threatening, use the 111 online service and remember that GP practices and pharmacies are also open and largely unaffected by the strikes.”

NHS111 provides advice and, if necessary, can make an appointment at a local urgent treatment centre. This avoids having to attend the hospital emergency department and it frees up services for people who are seriously ill.

People can check the Get in the Know website for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, to find out how to get the right care as quickly as possible when they are unwell or injured, with all the information on local urgent care services in one place. It also offers advice how to access health services if you’re ill while away from home. Visit: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/get-in-the-know 

Advice on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, is also available on the NHS website.

Dr Nil Sanganee also has advice for anyone who has a booked hospital appointment. He said: “Unfortunately, these strikes will have a significant impact upon planned and routine care but we will only reschedule appointments and procedures where absolutely necessary and will rebook immediately, where possible.

“If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. If your appointment is being rescheduled, you will be contacted ahead of time.”

Come forward for medical care if you need it

Even though the NHS is expected to be busier than normal, people are advised to continue coming forward for care, including calling 999 if it’s serious or a life-threatening emergency.

They should attend any booked appointments, unless the NHS has already told them that they need to reschedule.

GP practices will be open as normal, so people should continue to use them for anything urgent and that they can’t treat themselves. Dentists in the community will also be unaffected by the strike.

If it’s urgent

For urgent health needs people are asked to use NHS 111 as the first port of call by visiting www.111.nhs.uk. They can also phone NHS 111 if they do not have online access or for children under 5. The 111 service is available 24/7 and can advise where to get help for specific symptoms, direct people to the best local service to use, and book an appointment or arrival time to keep waiting times to a minimum.

For urgent mental health support, people can call the Mental Health Central Access Point on 0808 800 3302. There is also a range of Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes available across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Full details are available on the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust website: https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/service/neighbourhood-mh-cafes/ .

For minor injuries or illnesses

People can look after many minor illnesses and injuries themselves at home, but if they need any extra support they can visit www.111.nhs.uk, use the NHS App or go to a local pharmacy.

Pharmacists are qualified health professionals and are the right people to see for advice or over-the-counter medicines. They are trained in dealing with many illnesses, they can check symptoms and recommend the best treatment. There is a local pharmacy near to where most people live, so they offer fast, convenient support – without an appointment. Most also have a private consultation room.

Andrew Furlong, Medical Director/Deputy Chief Executive Officer for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: “The whole NHS is likely to be pressured during the industrial action. We are well prepared and focussed on providing a safe urgent and emergency care service to all who need it.

“The public can help us by calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency only. You can click or call 111 for non-life-threatening care, helping you get to the right place for your needs first time. Local pharmacies can help with less serious ailments.

“Anyone with a hospital appointment should continue to attend as planned unless they have been contacted to rearrange.”

Dr Saquib Muhammad, Interim Medical Director at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “Our crisis mental health services remain open as usual, including the Central Access Point (CAP) which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on freephone 0808 800 3302. If you need urgent care, please continue to come forward even if industrial action taking place. Especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. If there is an immediate threat to someone’s life, please phone 999.

“Our inpatient and community services will also remain open. To ensure the safety of our patients, some of our consultants and junior doctors will be providing a Christmas Day level of service and there are plans in place for urgent medical on-call cover. If your clinic is affected or has been rescheduled you will have been contacted already. If we have not contacted you, please attend any planned appointments as normal.”