22 August 2023

Consultants’ industrial action | 24 to 26 August and services over the bank holiday

People in Derby and Derbyshire are being urged to use NHS services wisely over the coming days and to ensure they have ordered any repeat medication they need in good time for the bank holiday.

Consultant (senior) doctors are taking industrial action at NHS Trusts across England, including Trusts serving Derby and Derbyshire from 7am on Thursday 24 August until 7am on Saturday 26 August.

The action is likely to have a severe impact on services, with much routine or planned care postponed.

The industrial action is being taken by members of the British Medical Association and British Dental Association.

NHS services in Derby and Derbyshire are also likely to be placed under increased strain because of the industrial action and the late summer bank holiday on Monday 28 August.

The bank holiday means most GP practices will be closed and many pharmacies will operate reduced opening hours, or will be closed.

In preparation for the bank holiday weekend, the local NHS is asking people to:

Please use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and only using 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
If you need urgent medical care please 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, urgent treatment centres, ambulance and 999 services in Derby and Derbyshire will remain available.
People in mental health crisis should continue to seek support as normal. Mental health crisis services will continue as normal, as will the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service (0800 028 0077).
Please order any repeat prescriptions you require in time to ensure you have adequate provision over the bank holidays. GP practices usually require 48 hours’ notice to organise a repeat prescription.
Check your local pharmacy opening time via the NHS England website, or your local pharmacy’s website.

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.

If you use the Medicine Order Line for your repeat prescriptions please be aware this line is open Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm, but does not open on bank holidays.

The Medicines Order Line does not offer an emergency service for prescription requests, and we politely ask patients not to contact the this number for emergencies.

For patients who have access to the internet, they can also use GP practice online ordering systems, the NHS app, or patients can email the Medicines Order Line and receive a call back within 48hours from one of the operators. Emails are manned throughout the day alongside the live lines.

northmolonlinerequests@nhs.net (for patients who would telephone the 01246 number)
southmolonlinerequests@nhs.net (for patients who would telephone the 0115 number)