How you can help during the next resident doctor strike
Resident doctors will be on strike again from 7am on 17 December until 7am on 22 December.
NHS organisations have plans in place to ensure emergency care is prioritised but local people are being asked to support by:
- Attending hospital and GP appointments unless they are told otherwise by your general practice or hospital.
- Helping friends and family be discharged from hospital by giving them a lift home, making sure they have essential shopping and important items like clothing and a key.
- Treating themselves at home for less serious conditions. You can find information about self-care on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/
- Choosing the right NHS service for their needs, such as their local pharmacy, GP or urgent treatment centre.
- Visiting 111 online or phoning 111 if they need medical help now but are not sure what to do.
- Only attending A&E if it is a life-threatening emergency.
- Being kind to staff.
Dr Dave Briggs, Executive Director of Outcomes (Medical) for the Cluster of Derby & Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Boards, said: “There are a range of NHS services available for different needs, such as pharmacies, urgent treatment centres and mental health crisis support. If you’re not sure which service is best, please visit NHS111 or phone 111 to be directed to the right place.
“If you have a family member or friend in hospital, you can help them to be discharged quickly by giving them a lift home, making sure they have essential shopping and important items like clothing and a key.”
Industrial action may cause some disruption in our hospitals, but patient safety is the highest priority and the hospitals have well-tested plans in place to ensure they can continue to deliver urgent and emergency care to those who need it.
A&E departments will continue to be open as normal, though there may be added pressure in this area. It is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases.
If your condition is not urgent, please think carefully about whether you can seek care from other NHS services such as NHS 111, your local pharmacy or urgent treatment centres.
The five Urgent Treatment Centres in Derby and Derbyshire are located at Derby UTC, Whitworth Hospital, Buxton Hospital, Ilkeston Hospital, Ripley Hospital. If you’re unsure where to go, call 111.
People in a mental health crisis should continue to seek support as normal during the Industrial Action period. Details of local support services can be found on the Derby and Derbyshire emotional health and wellbeing site.
Services include safe havens, crisis drop-in services and The 24/7 Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service (111 option 2) which will be running as normal.