The NHS across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be significantly impacted throughout the strike action due to take place next week from 7am on the 7th April until to 7am on 13th April.
This will result in serious challenges for all NHS services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Will Taylor said: “We are working closely with our partners to make sure patients can access the care they need, in a safe environment, during industrial action.”
Healthcare leaders across the two counties are asking local people to think carefully about the services they use during the period and to be proactive to avoid preventable illness to ensure emergency services are there for those who need them.
Dr Jules Walton, Chief Medical Officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
said: “With strikes taking place over a six-day period, immediately after a bank holiday weekend, our focus will be on ensuring that as many of our services as possible continue to operate safely.
“However, we do expect that our services will come under increased pressure and our Emergency Department team will be working exceptionally hard prioritising patients with life or limb threatening injury and illness to provide lifesaving care for those patients in the greatest need. Patients whose condition is less serious may be asked to seek treatment elsewhere or face an extremely long wait.
“If your condition is less serious you can call 111 or visit 111 online, which is a free NHS Service. They can quickly direct you to the right health service, including out of hours GP appointments. Pharmacists can also help with a range of common conditions and minor injuries.
“Local people can play their part to help reduce pressures on services by only using 999 and A&E for genuine life-threatening emergencies and using NHS 111 online or by phone for other care needs or if you’re unsure about whether you should go to hospital.”
Dr Chizo Agwu, Chief Medical Officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “We’re doing all we can to ensure we provide safe services during the industrial action. We’re expecting it to be very busy and are appealing for people to help us by only attending our Emergency Department if it is truly an emergency or they have sustained an accident requiring review in the Emergency Department. We will be prioritising the sickest patients which may cause additional waits in the department.
“There are alternatives if it is not an emergency, including NHS 111 or visit NHS online, GPs and pharmacies, and we would urge people to consider these as an alternative to attending the Emergency Department.
“We are doing everything possible to reduce the impact of strike action on patient procedures and appointments. If you have planned outpatient/diagnostic appointments, and treatment during this period, please continue to attend. We will contact you directly if your appointment/procedure needs to be rearranged.”
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111 for any urgent but not life-threatening medical needs. Trained advisers can direct people to the best possible care for their needs, including arranging an out-of-hours GP appointment or an appointment time to attend A&E or a Minor Injury Unit.
MIUs offer advice and treatment for a variety of injuries, including cuts, grazes, wounds, sprains, minor eye injuries, strains and minor burns.
Scott Parker, Director of Operations and Transformation at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “Minor injury units in Worcestershire remain open daily throughout this period of industrial action, offering advice and treatment for a wide range of minor injuries.
“We’re also reminding people that 24/7 urgent mental health support is available locally. If you need help or guidance for yourself or someone else, call NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health support.”
The Trust are reminding people that MIUs in Worcestershire remain open throughout the strike period, with the aim of increasing awareness of the 7 day-service they provide.
