13 March 2023

How to support the NHS during this week’s strike action

The local NHS is asking the public to think carefully about the services they use during this week’s industrial action being taken by junior doctors.

During the strike, please choose services wisely to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most, and attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) voted to take industrial action at NHS Trusts across England, including Trusts serving Derby and Derbyshire.

The first round of industrial action began today, Monday March 13, at 7am and is due to continue until 7am on Thursday 16 March 2023.

Our key 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 anyone who needs urgent medical care continues to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – for example, 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 to 16 March.
Similarly, people in mental health crisis should continue to seek support as normal. Mental health crisis services will be running from 13 to 16 March, 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. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
GP services are impacted by this strike action but please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.