The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that its members will take part in two consecutive periods of industrial action in July 2023, as below:
Junior Doctors – 07:00am on Thursday 13th July 2023 to 07:00am on Tuesday 18th July 2023
Consultants – 07:00am on Thursday 20th July 2023 to 07:00am on Saturday 22nd July 2023
Due to the nature of the prolonged period of strike action set to take place, WWL is calling on your further support and understanding so that our staff can manage any disruption, keeping patient safety as the Trust’s top priority throughout.
Please be assured, WWL is committed to focusing on the protection of essential life and limb services, such as Accident and Emergency (A&E), Maternity, Emergency Theatres, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
How can you help?
WWL will need your continued support in the build-up to this period of industrial action, throughout the duration of both strikes, and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure that essential care can be given to those who need it most.
WWL is encouraging family and friends of patients who are due to be discharged from hospital to continue to do everything they can to support your loved ones. This will help our teams to free-up hospital beds for those who are waiting to be admitted.
If you need urgent medical help for life, limb or sight-threatening conditions, you should continue to come forward and seek the care you need through the Emergency Department at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary or by calling 999.
For medical help and advice for non-life, limb or sight-threatening conditions, please use NHS 111 online in the first instance, or seek an alternative to A&E, such as your local GP, local pharmacy, urgent dental care service or urgent eye care service. You can find out more information and get to know where to go for support at https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/GTKWTG/
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; or.
- You require health information or reassurance about what to do next.
- Our emergency services remain open for those who need urgent care during this period.
What happens if I have an appointment planned?
If you have an appointment scheduled for the dates that strike action is planned, unless otherwise advised directly by WWL, all patients are asked to attend their appointments as normal. You do not need to contact WWL, anyone whose appointments or care may be impacted will be contacted directly by our teams to reschedule a new date as soon as possible.