Pressure remains on local health services during doctors’ strike
The NHS’s national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, has called on the public to choose services wisely to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most during the ongoing industrial action by junior doctors.
Health services across Derby and Derbyshire have been affected by the strike, and Sir Stephen said emergency departments in particular were working hard to meet high demand: “Emergency departments remained under severe pressure on Monday, and, while we are prioritising urgent and critical care, it’s important to remember that GP surgeries and pharmacies are largely unaffected and that 111 online can help with many non-urgent needs.
“Some hospitals even saw their busiest Monday of the year so far for A&E attendance as the strike got underway yesterday, which presents a major challenge as our staff continue to do all they can to mitigate the impact of the industrial action for patients.
“As we see the impact of the most significant strike disruption in the history of the NHS, we’re really grateful to the public for using services appropriately.
“If you need emergency care, please continue to call 999, and please do attend any GP or hospital appointments unless contacted otherwise. But the public can help us ensure that care can be delivered to those that need it most over the next 48 hours by using 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies only, and using NHS 111 online or calling 111 for non-urgent needs.”
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 on Monday, 13 March, at 7am and is due to continue until 7am on Thursday 16 March.
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.
Latest updates
For the most up-to-date information, please the following websites and social media accounts:
NHS England
Comprehensive information from NHS England on the planned industrial action.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
https://twitter.com/royalhospital
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
https://twitter.com/derbyshcft