The NHS has issued a warning ahead of sweeping strikes due to hit hospitals this week.
Patients are being urged to choose NHS services wisely as the next spate of industrial action is about to unfold across the health service. Junior doctors are taking action from 7am on Thursday 13 July to 7am on Tuesday 18 July.
Hospital consultants will strike from 7am on Thursday 20 July to 7am on Saturday 22 July. In addition, the Society of Radiographers has announced its members will strike from 8am on 25 July to 8am on 27 July.
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Dr Paula Cowan, a GP and the regional medical director for primary care across the north west, said the prolonged period and the action by all grades of doctors over the coming two weeks is expected to be a very busy and pressured period.
She said: “The junior doctors’ and consultants’ industrial action will create significant challenges for the NHS and it is vital the public are aware of the pressure the health service will be under for a prolonged period of time. However, if there is a need to access care, it is important to know the best way to access NHS services during that time.
“The impact of previous industrial action was significant. Junior doctors make up a large proportion of the clinical workforce, from newly qualified doctors to those who are ready to become consultants and GPs, and work in all areas of hospital services as well as primary care services. Consultants lead those services and have the expertise of years of training, studying and practice.
“We are now entering the eighth month of industrial action across the NHS, this has a cumulative impact on staff who have gone above and beyond to maintain safe patient services during a challenging period.”
Dr Cowan went on to say that the public’s support during previous periods of industrial action has been invaluable and she is immensely grateful to them for continuing to use NHS services appropriately during these times of pressure.
“Urgent and emergency care services will, as always, continue to be open during the industrial action period and people should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency,” she added.
“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
Regional Medical Director Dr Michael Gregory added that if anyone needs medical help or advice or is unsure about whether they should go to hospital, NHS 111 online is a way to find out how to access services.
“During the period of the industrial action, it is more important than ever that the public know to make NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) their first port of call for non-emergency health needs,” he said.
"During strike action we will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only cancel appointments and procedures where it is necessary and will reschedule immediately, where possible.
“The NHS is continuing to deliver planned care where possible, especially for patients in greatest clinical need, and we would urge the public to please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
"If a relative or friend is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do whatever you can to help bring them home as early as possible. This will help our teams to free-up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted."
The public are reminded to continue to attend appointments, unless contacted and told otherwise.
“Local NHS services will be using their website and social media channels to provide up to date information to the public about local service disruption,” added Dr Gregory.
