BMA Resident Doctors’ Industrial action – 17 December to 22 December

Information for patients and the public

Ahead of this week’s industrial action by Resident Doctors, the NHS in Gloucestershire is setting out the pre-planned and temporary service changes that will be put in place.

The changes announced today will help NHS services to prepare for industrial action and enable available emergency care staff to come together at Gloucester to keep services safe.

Whilst the NHS locally is making plans to keep essential services available and minimise disruption as far as possible, the strike will pose substantial challenges at a time when flu cases are at unprecedented levels for this time of year. The highest priority will be to care for those in most immediate and urgent need and safeguard patient care.

• It is really important that you continue to come forward as normal for urgent medical care – especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured. Therefore, please take note below of the temporary changes to emergency care provision in Gloucestershire during the strike.
• Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Wednesday 17 December and Monday 22 December should attend as usual unless they hear from us to advise otherwise. However, given the need to ensure safe staffing arrangements in emergency care and other critical services some appointments will need to be rearranged.
• To enable available emergency care staff to come together at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and ensure patient safety during the strike, we are making some temporary changes.

Temporary changes to Cheltenham A&E

Planned operations, outpatient clinics and procedures

• There is no expected disruption to patient visiting arrangements on these days.
• However, we are asking relatives and carers to do everything they can to work with their staff to get their loved ones home from hospital as quickly and as safely as possible, with additional support, if necessary, from local NHS community services or adult social care teams.
• If people have an urgent care need, but are not sure which service to use, they are asked to visit 111.nhs.uk in the first instance or call 111 for advice. The 111 phone service can book people into local NHS services if required, but is likely to see an increase in calls.

Community Minor Injury and Illness Units and GP practices across the county will continue to provide services. The public can get advice on their healthcare options at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

Whilst the NHS locally is making plans to keep essential services available, the strike will cause disruption and pose substantial challenges. The highest priority will be to care for those in most immediate and urgent need and safeguard patient care.

Getting healthcare advice

• Many parts of the NHS - hospitals, community services and GP practices - are likely to feel the impact of the industrial action - either directly or indirectly - so local people are being urged to use services responsibly.
• If people have an urgent care need, but are not sure which service to use, they are asked to visit 111.nhs.uk in the first instance or call 111 for advice. The 111 phone service can book people into local NHS services if required, but is likely to see an increase in calls.
• 111 online and the local ASAP Glos NHS website and app can provide information on the services provided by community pharmacies, GP surgeries, including the Gloucester Health Access Centre, Community Minor Injury and Illness Units (MIIUs) and the Emergency Department.
• A number of Community Hospital Minor Injury and Illness Units across the county will be open on the days - 8am to 8pm (last walk-in patient seen at 7.30pm). People are likely to be seen more quickly on arrival if they book an appointment by using 111.
• Cheltenham MIIU will be open from 8am to 8pm during the period of industrial action.

People can get the latest on the day service updates and advice on the industrial action through local NHS social media channels and websites.