BMA Industrial Action – 13th – 16th March 2023

Industrial action against the Government by Junior Doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) is set to take place at all NHS organisations, including Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), from 06:59 on Monday 13th March 2023 until 06:59 on Thursday 16th March 2023.

WWL is offering reassurance to the public that robust plans are in place to protect its emergency services and to safely care for patients who are in urgent, while requesting support from the people of the Wigan Borough, to continue to access the most appropriate healthcare options for their needs.

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, as anyone whose appointments or care may be impacted will be contacted directly by WWL to reschedule a new date as soon as possible.

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; 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.