News from our partners: Info/advice re junior doctors 72-hour strike 14-17 June

News from our partners NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin / and ICS (Integrated Care System)

The next planned industrial action is from the junior doctors, with strike action planned for 72 hours between 7am on Wednesday 14 June 2023 until 7am on Saturday 17 June 2023. This is after members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) voted in favour of the strike.

It will be the third period of industrial action by junior doctors this year, following a 96-hour strike in April.

The strike action will impact all our hospitals – The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, The Princess Royal in Telford, Robert Jones & Agnus Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, and the community hospitals run by Shropshire Community NHS Health Trust. Please be assured we are working hard to ensure we minimise disruption to services.

Medical help during junior doctors strike

Emergency care will be prioritised and patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen. However, where appropriate, if you or anyone you know needs to, please use other non-hospital services for advice and treatment during this time, such as:

• NHS 111: www.111.nhs.uk or telephone 111
• GP practices (they will continue to be open during the strike)
• Minor injury units
• Local pharmacies.

Hospital appointments during junior doctors strike

Dr Nick White, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:

“The 72-hour strike will bring substantial challenges to the local NHS, particularly hospital services, and we are sorry that many patients will experience disruption to services.

“Partners across the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS (Integrated Care System) are working closely together to ensure those in greatest need continue to have access to high quality care and support.

“We cannot emphasise enough how important it will be to keep our A&E’s clear for life-threatening conditions and serious injuries.”

Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinics or procedures should attend as usual, unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise. However, given the need to ensure safe staffing arrangements in emergency care and other critical services, many appointments will need to be rearranged.

At this time we would like to reassure everyone across the county that patient safety is our top priority, and that we are working together to try and mitigate the impact to the public.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is 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.

GP practices opening, during junior doctors strike

Here are some key points to remember:

• If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
• The NHS is asking patients to use services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Local Minor Injury Units, GP surgeries and pharmacies are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
• The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones, and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.

More information about the strikes can be found on the NHS England website.