Industrial Action Update: NHS urges people to use alternative services

The NHS in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is urging people to use alternative services during the current industrial action by junior doctors.

The strike, which is the third taken by junior doctors, started at 7am on Wednesday 14 June and will run until 7am on Saturday 17 June.

Junior doctors make up almost half of the medical workforce, so it is inevitable that some services have been disrupted.

Keith Girling, Nottingham University Hospitals Medical Director said: “Please only use A&E or call 999 for life threatening injury or illness. The quickest way to receive medical help is via NHS111 online, but you can also use your GP, pharmacy or urgent treatment centre. By choosing NHS services wisely and making every appointment count, you will be helping to ensure our hard-working staff can be there for the patients who need us most.

“Junior doctors play a vital role in the running of our NHS so it is inevitable that services will be disrupted. We are doing everything we can to focus on urgent and emergency care during the strike period.”

Dr Tim Noble, Executive Medical Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, added: “Regardless of any action taking place, we want to remind our communities that, if you have an appropriate need, the NHS is still here for you, and to attend any appointments you may have unless contacted otherwise.”

In the majority of cases, the first doctor anyone will see when they go into hospital will be a junior doctor. They are qualified doctors who have anywhere up to eight years’ experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice.

How the public can help:

• Please use A&E or call 999 if you are facing life threatening illness or injury. Your NHS is here for you when you need it – especially if you or your loved ones become seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
• If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do whatever you can to help bring them home as early as possible. This will help our teams to free-up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.
• The quickest way to receive medical help is via NHS111 online, but you can also use your GP, pharmacy or urgent treatment centre.
• Pharmacies can offer over-the-counter advice and treat common illnesses such as colds, sore throats, stings and allergies.
• Consider using Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs). They can treat injuries including sprains, strains, suspected fractures, bites, cuts, scalds, and other non-life-threatening conditions. Waiting times are usually much shorter than A&E. We have UTCs at:
  • Nottingham – The NHS Urgent Care Centre (next to the BBC building) is open every day from 7am-7pm. You don’t need an appointment to attend. Seaton House, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 4LA Tel: 0115 883 8500
  • Newark – Newark Hospital is open 9am-10pm (last patient admitted at 9.30pm). It can be found on Boundary Road, NG24 4DE
  • Ilkeston Community Hospital – is open 8am – 8pm. It can be found on Heanor Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8LN. You can book into this service via 111.