Industrial Action update

Doctors’ industrial action from 13 July to 22 July 2023

Updated 19 July

Consultant (senior) doctors are taking industrial action at NHS Trusts across England, including Trusts serving Derby and Derbyshire. 

The NHS in England has warned that the action will have a “severe impact” on services, “with routine care virtually at a standstill for 48 hours”.

Consultants who are part of the BMA and BDA are taking their action from 7am on Thursday 20 July to 7am on Saturday 22 July.

This action follows junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA), British Dental Association (BDA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association who took part in industrial action from 7am on Thursday 13 July to 7am on Tuesday 18 July. During this time, junior doctors in Derbyshire had the opportunity and personal choice to go on strike for all or some of the time.

Our messages to people in Derby and Derbyshire 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. Please use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and only using 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
  • 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. A&E, ambulance and 999 services in Derby and Derbyshire will remain available from 13 July to 22 July.
  • Similarly, people in mental health crisis should continue to seek support as normal. Mental health crisis services will be running from 13 July to 22 July, as will the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service (0800 028 0077).
  • The NHS will contact you if an appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action. If your appointment needs to be rearranged, NHS staff may try to call you from a withheld number. We understand that it may be frustrating if your appointment needs to be rescheduled, but please show courtesy to the member of staff who is calling you. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
  • Make sure you have ordered and collected any repeat medicines, especially if you are travelling
  • Remember that your first port of call for GP care is your home practice, which will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations as well as arranging for prescriptions to be sent to any pharmacy you choose. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

Latest updates

For the most up-to-date information, please see the NHS England website. Or view the following social media accounts:

DHU Healthcare (for 111 and Urgent Care information and advice)

 Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust