NHS Strikes: Useful information

Strike action is currently taking place in some parts of the NHS.
We expect nursing strikes to take place on Thursday 15th and Tuesday 20th December in some NHS hospitals and community services.
Ambulance service strikes are currently planed in some areas on Wednesday 21st and Wednesday 28th December.

Regardless of the strikes, it is really important that anyone who is unwell and needs urgent medical care continues to contact the NHS for help, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

For urgent medical help, click here to use NHS111 online or call NHS 111. You should still call 999 if there is a medical emergency.

The NHS should contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you have not been contacted, you should attend your appointment as planned.
GP services will be running as usual during the strikes, so you can continue to contact you GP and attend your appointments as normal.

For more information you can check the NHS website.

FAQ
When are strikes taking place?
There are nurse strikes in some parts of the country taking place on Thursday 15th and Tuesday 20th December for 12 hours.

There are ambulance service strikes in some areas taking place on 21st and 28th December for 24hours.

What will strikes mean in my area?
It will depend on where you live. Strikes will not be taking place in every area, so many hospitals and services will be running as usual. You can check if your area is affected here for nurses and here for
ambulance strikes.

What services will be impacted?
Again this will depend on where you live. If you are in an area where strikes are taking place, it is likely that some appointments for routine services such as planned operations or hospital will have to be rescheduled for another day. Other hospital and community services may still be running but
with a reduced number of staff.

Emergency care will continue to be available in every part of the country. Regardless of the strikes, it is really important that anyone who is unwell and needs urgent medical care continues to contact the NHS for help, especially in emergency and life - threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill
or injured and their life is at risk.

For urgent medical help, click here to use NHS111 online or call NHS 111. You should still call 999 if there is a medical emergency.

GPs services, dentists and pharmacies will also be open as normal across all parts of the country.

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

If you have not been contacted directly, it means your appointment is going ahead and you should attend as normal.

What should I do if I need an ambulance on strike days?
If you are seriously ill or injured then you should call 999 as normal, emergency care will still be available.

For all other health care needs support will be available through NHS111 online or by calling 111 helpline. GP services, dentists and pharmacies will also be open as normal.

What about GPs?
GP services will be running as normal on strike days and will not be impacted.
What’s going to happen to if someone is already in hospital?
Anyone in hospital on a strike day will receive more information directly from the hospital about the arrangements to support patients on their ward.
Where can I go for more information?

The NHS has more information on what this means for you which can be found here.