Industrial action by the Royal College of Nursing will be taking place at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital on 15 and 20 December. Please check their websites for the most up to date information. www.gstt.nhs.uk
21 December have been announced as strike action days by other unions covering ambulance services.
Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care 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.
- 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.
- GP services are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
- On days where there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency [when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk].
- Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
- Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or through NHS 111, and where possible, it is advised that you arrange alternative transport.
- There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during industrial action, with the NHS prioritising those with life-threatening needs. As a result patients whose conditions are not life-threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance on strike days. View here for more information on how calls are categorised.
- During strike days, it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy. NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff, with longer call response times expected across the system. As a result, we are urging anyone with non-urgent care needs to first seek help from NHS 111 online.
For the latest guidance, information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.