Junior doctor’s strike: patients advised to avoid hospital unless absolutely necessary

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Rochdale Infirmary, The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester and Fairfield General Hospital, is asking the public to only go to hospital if they have an appointment or if it is an emergency on Tuesday 12 January, which is a day of strike action by junior doctors.

Emergency care, including A&E and emergency surgery, will be fully staffed and unaffected; these services will continue to be provided during the strike. The public, however, are being urged to think carefully before coming to A&E and to consider using the wide range of alternative healthcare services available in the community, including GP surgeries, pharmacies and the NHS 111 service, unless they are very seriously unwell or have been involved in an accident.

The Trust’s cancer services, maternity services and labour wards will also not be affected by the strike.

The Trust will implement contingency plans if necessary so that services can continue to be provided to patients as normal. 

The Trust has already contacted 24 patients directly to rearrange their non-urgent elective operations; these are mainly day-patient cases.

Dr Anton Sinniah, Acting Medical Director at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Patient safety and the welfare of our patients is the Trust’s top priority. Our A&E departments and urgent care services will operate as usual, but we are asking the public to think twice before coming to A&E unless their condition is urgent.

"This industrial action will place considerable pressure on the NHS, nationally and locally, at a point when staff are working incredibly hard and are already dealing with significant seasonal demand. People are also reminded of the other healthcare options available instead of coming to A&E or dialling 999 – such as visiting their pharmacist, local GP practice, calling NHS 111 or using NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk).

“There is likely to be some impact on our non-emergency and planned services during this period. We have contacted patients directly if their care has to be postponed and rescheduled as a result. Those in less urgent need of care may experience longer waiting times than normal.”

“We are also working closely with our partners across primary care and local authority social care to ensure we are collectively doing all that we can as a local health and social care system to improve the flow of patients in and out of our hospitals and to help discharge patients who are medically fit to go home or return to their care setting. We would also be keen for families of patients to help our staff when patients are ready for discharge both of the day of the strikes and in the days after.”