Advice issued as Black Country hospitals face resident doctors strikes
Hospitals and trusts across the West Midlands said they are 'coping well' with strike action by resident doctors.
The strike by thousands of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, began today (July 25) after the Government and British Medical Association (BMA) failed to reach an agreement over pay.
But trusts across Staffordshire and in the West Midlands say they have put contingency plans in place, though they are expecting some disruption to services.
No pickets were in place this morning at Walsall Manor, New Cross in Wolverhampton, Russells Hall which serves Dudley or at Stafford Hospital.
Simon Constable, chief executive of University Hospitals North Midlands said: “We would like to reassure our patients that, despite industrial action, urgent and emergency services will continue to operate and we have done all we can to maintain as much planned care as possible.
"It is vital that anyone who is seriously ill or injured, or whose life may be at risk, continues to seek medical help as normal.
“Every effort has and will continue to be made to minimise the impact of strike action but it is inevitable there will be some disruption.
We have had to rearrange some appointments where necessary to ensure we can prioritise urgent and emergency care and any of our urgent planned care.
"We are asking patients to attend their appointments as planned if they have not been contacted by us directly.”
Diane Wake, group chief executive at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which covers Russells Hall and Midland Metropolitan University Hospital said: “We have plans in place to provide a safe service for patients requiring emergency care and continue with urgent planned care during the industrial action by resident doctors.
"Patients should keep their appointments unless we have contacted them to rearrange. In a small number of cases, we have rescheduled clinics to see patients quickly following the strike.
“Our staff are pulling together in the interests of our patients to provide safe care during the next five days, and we will be reviewing activity on a regular basis throughout this period so we can respond appropriately.
"To help us continue to treat those who need emergency care, please get advice on where to get help through NHS111 as a first port of call, or 999 and A&E in an emergency.”
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has urged patients and people with appointments to follow advice published on its website.
It includes:
Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS 111 online or call NHS 111 to be assessed and directed to the right service. In life-threatening emergencies, people should call 999 or go to A&E as normal.
Services such as pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres, minor injury units, and urgent treatment centres will remain open during the industrial action and can support people with a wide range of health concerns.
Patients with hospital appointments should attend as planned unless contacted directly by the NHS to reschedule. There is no need to call to check if your appointment is going ahead.
GP practices will continue to be open as normal during the industrial action. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
Labour's health secretary Wes Streeting said the NHS was facing a challenging few days during the doctors strike in England as it attempts to keep as many services as possible running.
Mr Streeting said that while it was not possible to eliminate disruption from the five-day strike by resident doctors, it was being kept to a minimum.
