NHS challenges and disruption expected due to summer strike action

Health care leaders across Suffolk and north east Essex say they expect significant challenges and disruption for patients during the latest round of strike action and are urging people to do all they can to support the NHS.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that junior doctors will take part in industrial action day and night, from 7am on Thursday 13 July until 7am on Tuesday 18 July.

Senior doctors and hospital consultants will then also be striking for a further 48 hours, from 7am on Thursday 20 July until 7am on Saturday 22 July.

Leaders say these strikes will impact both routine and emergency care.

Hospitals within the system are expected to be very busy during this period of strike action, which coincides with school holidays, potentially impacting staffing levels due to childcare needs, as well as the increased incidences of hot weather and summer holiday illness and injury.

GP practices, pharmacies and NHS 111 for physical and mental health support will be largely unaffected and will remain open for business as usual.

Anyone with a healthcare appointment during this time will be contacted if it needs to be rescheduled, and there is no need to contact your healthcare provider.

Dr Andrew Kelso, Medical Director at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “With previous strike action we have managed to look after patients well, which is due to people only using A&E for emergencies, for which we are grateful, and to our staff for working incredibly hard.

“This time around the strike by junior doctors is longer, and the effects on patients might be more obvious when the consultants go on strike two days later. While I wholly respect everyone’s right to take this action, it is inevitable that the consequences for patients will be more far reaching than before, with delays and disruption to care.

“There are actions we can all take to support the NHS and ourselves and our family well.

“Keep a supply of basic medicines like paracetamol and sticking plasters at home so you can best deal with minor illness and injury, and your local pharmacy will offer advice on the best items to keep in your medicine cabinet.

“I also urge people to use their local pharmacy or NHS 111 for help and advice if they feel unwell, and also to assure people that hospital A&E departments will be open for those with emergency, life-threatening conditions.

“Please do all you can to help us.”

 For more information about staying well, please visit www.sneewellbeing.org.uk

If you need care over this period

• Life-threatening emergency or serious injury: call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E)
• Medical attention and advice – visit NHS 111 online or call NHS 111
• For expert advice and medicines – visit your local pharmacy
• Mental health crisis support – visit NHS 111 online or call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option