Bank Holiday periods are always busy times for NHS organisations, and ahead of the four-day Easter weekend and the following four days of British Medical Association (BMA) industrial action, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is calling on the public’s support to help manage the pressure on its services.
Following the Easter break, Junior Doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are set to take part in industrial action against the Government, from 06:59 on Tuesday 11th April 2023 until 06:59 on Saturday 15th April 2023.
With tried and tested plans in place to protect urgent and emergency care services during busy periods, or periods of industrial action, the WWL’s Medical Director, Professor Sanjay Arya, is requesting for support from the people of the Wigan Borough to be prepared and to continue to access the most appropriate healthcare options, particularly for non-emergency illnesses.
Professor Arya said: “It’s really important for me to emphasise that our healthcare services are here and will continue to be available over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and during the four days of industrial action that follow, but there will be some temporary changes to how some of our services are delivered, and it’s important that everyone is prepared.
“Leading up to this extended period, our strong focus will be on protecting our urgent and emergency care services for patients who have life, limb or sight-threatening conditions, and providing safe hospital services for patients in our care.
“Everyone can help play their part in helping us by accessing services in the most appropriate way. If a condition is not life, limb or sight-threatening, please use NHS 111 online in the first instance or alternative services such as your GP, pharmacy or local urgent treatment centre. Self-care at home is just as important, and we would always advise being well-stocked on over-the-counter medications, especially ahead of Bank Holidays.”
To support the Trust’s plans, Prof. Arya is also asking that the community are mindful of helping their loved ones to return home from then hospital, when they are medically fit to do so.
He said: "We are also committed to providing safe and timely discharges for patients already in our care, which is why it is really important for friends and relatives to support their loved ones through this process once they are ready to be discharged. This will help our teams to free up hospital beds for patients waiting to be admitted.
“The support we have received from the public during challenging times like that has been invaluable and we are immensely grateful to everyone for continuing to use the NHS appropriately during these times. We will need that to be the same over the next two weeks, as the combination of the Bank Holiday and industrial action will create significant pressure in the healthcare system.”
During the four-day period of industrial action, WWL will maintain a focus on protecting essential life, limb and sight-saving services such as Accident and Emergency (A&E) (including Paediatric A&E), Maternity, Emergency Theatres, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (including Neonatal Intensive Care and Paediatric Intensive Care), Chemotherapy and Dialysis. However, a number of services will be impacted, including the need to reschedule outpatient and surgical appointments.
If you have an appointment planned with any of the WWL services during the period of industrial action, unless otherwise advised directly by WWL, all patients are asked to attend as normal. You do not need to contact WWL or your GP, as anyone whose appointments or care may be impacted will be contacted directly by WWL to reschedule a new date as soon as possible.
If you need medical help or advice, NHS 111 Online can tell you where to get help for your symptoms and how to find general health information and advice. More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
Please contact NHS 111 if:
- You need medical help fast, but it's not a 999 emergency.
- You don't know who to call for medical help or you don't have a GP to call.
- You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service.
- You require health information or reassurance about what to do next.