Doctors' strike - what you need to know

Resident doctors across the NHS started five days of strike action from 7am today until 7am on Wednesday, July 30.

Hospital chiefs are reminding the public that the NHS is still operational and they should continue to come forward for care as normal. The are urging people to use services wisely and attend hospital and GP appointments as planned unless directly contacted and asked not to.

Some appointments may have to be postponed, but if this happens you will be contacted and your appointment will be rearranged.

If you need support or advice, please contact NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health. In life-threatening emergencies, call 999.

Rebecca Neno, Deputy Director for System Delivery, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, said: 

“We have been planning for this industrial action for some time now, in order to minimise disruption for patients.  

“Please continue to use NHS services wisely.  Attend your hospital and GP appointments as planned unless you are asked not to. If your appointment has to be postponed, you will be contacted and your appointment rearranged.  

“And don’t forget you can also use 111 online or call 111 for medical help, including mental health support which is available by calling 111 and selecting option 2.  

“If it’s an emergency and/or life-threatening, you should call 999.  

“Thank you once again for your understanding, please be kind to all NHS staff.” 

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides a full range of mental health services, as well as support for people with learning disabilities and autistic people has also assured the public it has ‘robust contingency measures in place during the strike action’.

“Our services will remain open and available to anyone who needs us during this time,” said a spokesperson. 

FAQS – information supplied by the United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

What is happening?

Resident doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) have voted to take strike action. NHS employers have been formally notified of a period of strike action beginning at 7am on Friday, July 25 until 7am on Wednesday, July 30.

What do strikes mean for NHS services in my area?

The strikes announced cover resident doctors across the NHS. This means action will impact every hospital in England. We are working hard to minimise the impact this action has on patients, but this will inevitably cause disruption during the strike period, and is likely to have a longer-term impact on our services due to the additional resources required to keep services going safely.

What does this mean for care?

During these strikes, all other NHS staff (including consultants, GPs and other specialist doctors) will still be working. The NHS is working hard to minimise the impact on patients and make sure there are safe levels of staffing in key services patients need. However, we know from previous strikes that there will be significant disruption, and we will make sure patients and the local community know how this might affect them.

When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?

The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a text, phone call or a letter and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment.

We will be doing everything possible to minimise the number of patients who have planned care disrupted, so it may be the case that you do not receive very much notice of a postponement. We apologise for this unavoidable inconvenience. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.

If my appointment is rescheduled, will I be put back to the bottom of the waiting list? 

Any appointments that need to be rescheduled will be done so as a priority.

Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?

No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.

I have a loved one who will be a hospital inpatient on strike day – how will their care be affected?

All hospital inpatients will be informed of how their care will be impacted on a ward-by-ward basis by the staff involved in delivering their care.

Will GP services be affected on strike days? 

GP practices will continue to be open during the resident doctor’s strike. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

Will dentists be impacted?

Please continue to attend any dental appointments unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

What is considered an emergency?

Patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, and there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate. For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.

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