Consultant industrial action

The British Medical Association in England has announced:

This will impact on services at University Hospitals of North Midlands. We are working closely with union representatives to ensure plans are in place to maintain safe care for patients, while facilitating and respecting the right of those staff who wish to take legal industrial action.

Patient safety is our number one priority, so we will be adjusting our services and the way we staff them to ensure our quality of care is not compromised.

During strike action, urgent and emergency care and maternity care will be our priority.  Please be assured that you can continue to access our emergency departments (ED) and maternity services.

 

Prioritising patients most in need

Some appointments, including surgeries, may need to be postponed or rearranged. Priority will be given to those patients with the most pressing health needs. 

We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action, either by text or phone.  If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.

Any postponed appointments will be re-arranged as a priority.  We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If you are pregnant and concerned about the health of yourself or your baby, please, call the helpline number listed in your notes or attend your maternity unit.

We are also working closely with partners across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to secure enhanced community support so patients don’t have to stay in hospital unnecessarily.

How can you help?

If you’re caring for vulnerable people, such as the elderly, children and people with long-term conditions, get in touch with your GP if you have concerns about accessing medical care

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. 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).

Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or through calling NHS 111. For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, please visit the NHS UK website.

Thank you for your understanding

Your questions answered:

https://www.uhnm.nhs.uk/about-us/nhs-industrial-action-what-do-i-need-to-know/