Hospital consultants and Junior Doctors will be taking a further round of strike action in September and October, some of which will fall on the same days.
- Consultants will strike for 48 hours from 7.00am, Tuesday 19 September, to 7.00am on Thursday 21 September and then again for 72 hours from 7.00am, Monday 2 October, to 7.00am on Thursday 5 October.
- Junior Doctors will also strike from 7.00am on Wednesday 20 September to 7.00am on Saturday 23 September and then again from Monday 2 October to Thursday 5 October.
Hospital consultants are the NHS’s most senior clinicians, who’s roles cannot be covered by other staff.
Strike action by Hospital consultants will still deliver Christmas Day levels of care – meaning emergency departments will still be open and staffed with consultants, but disruption and longer waits should be expected.
We are now entering the ninth month of industrial action across the NHS and staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care under the circumstances.
NHS pay is a matter for the Government and trade unions.
Getting help from the NHS during the strike action
The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably there will be some service disruption on strike days, with information about the impact of industrial action published nationally here.
Emergency care and other critical services such as maternity departments will be open as usual and life-threatening calls responded to. People should always call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.
Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
The NHS is asking patients to use services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
If you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999. Patients should take advice from 111 / 999 call-handlers on whether it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.
NHS England has also produced a series of FAQs for the public around the upcoming industrial action.
If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse or deteriorates, this can be called a ‘mental health crisis’. In this situation, it is important to get help quickly.
Please call 0800 145 6485 and our dedicated local staff will support you to access the help you need. The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is open to people of all ages, including children and young people.
Irrespective of any industrial action, please do not hesitate to come forward to access care if you need it. We’re urging people to make NHS 111 Online their first port of call if they need urgent health advice on days of strike action.
NHS 111 Online can tell you:
- Where to get help for your symptoms
- How to find general health information and advice
- Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
- How to get a repeat prescription
The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably there will be some service disruption on strike days.
Emergency care and other critical services will be open as usual and life-threatening calls responded to.
The NHS will do everything it can to go ahead with planned appointments - especially for patients in greatest clinical need - and will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.