People across the country are being urged to use public health services wisely as Resident Doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) have the personal choice to take part in industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 17th December until 7am on Monday 22nd December.
Some NHS services (such as community and district nursing for example) will be largely unaffected, and although hospitals, mental health services and primary care or GP practices will be open as usual, there may be disruption so please make sure that you choose your place of care according to your health needs.
If you have an appointment booked that needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action, your provider will contact you. If you don't hear anything about your appointment then please assume it will be going ahead and attend your appointment as normal.
Please follow the NHS’ advice during this time, to help you get the right care, in the right place, as quickly as possible.
Our messages to all those needing to access any health services are…
- Please use health services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to those who need it most - this page (click here) has some great advice about where to go to get the right treatment at the right place for your health needs, whether that is A&E, an Urgent treatment Centre, Pharmacy, your GP, self care or an alternative service. Please call 111 or use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
- Looking after minor illnesses and injuries yourself at home. You can use a local pharmacy, the NHS App, NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice.
- Use your GP practice as normal unless you hear otherwise directly from your practice.
- Make sure you have enough of your prescribed medicines, use the NHS app, your GP practice website or call your GP if you need a repeat prescription.
- Ensure you have a fully stocked first aid kit at home - click here to find out what you need.
- Attend any scheduled medical appointments as usual. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
- People in mental health crisis should continue to access support through the normal channels. Mental health crisis services will be running throughout the industrial action...there is a useful NHS page that helps you to access your nearest 24 hour mental health helpline or support services, you can find it by clicking here.
- It is really important that those of you who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases. This includes when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. A&E, ambulance and 999 services will remain available during this time and by following the advice above, we can all help to ensure the wider health service is available for you when you need it.
Latest updates
For the most up-to-date information, please see the NHS England website.