Physiotherapists to strike on 9 February

Physiotherapists from the Northern Care Alliance are going on strike

Physiotherapists from the Northern Care Alliance – which runs Rochdale Infirmary, Royal Oldham, Fairfield and Salford Royal hospitals – will be going on strike on Thursday (9 February).

Physios have agreed to staff life and limb critical services, which are mainly critical care and emergency on-call respiratory (breathing) services but most other services and appointments will be affected.

This comes as ambulance staff in the north west will be striking during the same week on Monday 6 February and Friday 10 February.
 

Read more: Ambulance service expecting further disruption due to strikesPublished: 03 February 2023

Ambulances will still be able to respond during the strike, but this will only be where there is an immediate risk to life. Less serious calls may have to wait longer than usual for an ambulance and some people might be asked to make their own way to hospital, where it is safe for them to so.

Staff working at GP surgeries, community pharmacies, and dentistry are not on strike and the public should continue to access these services as needed on strike days and attend all appointments unless contacted.

Derogations, known as exemptions, provided to a member or service from taking part in strike action are made between employers and unions to ensure both safe staffing levels and which services are exempt from strike action. Some services may be cancelled to maintain staffing levels.

Silas Nicholls, chief executive, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and co-chair of Greater Manchester’s System Operational Response Taskforce said: “The NHS in Greater Manchester is working extremely hard to keep services running and to keep people safe during industrial action taking place this month and next.

“While strikes will cause inevitable disruption to services, local NHS teams have tried to maintain as many appointments as possible, so it is important people attend appointments as planned unless they have been contacted for it to be rearranged.

“Regardless of any industrial action taking place, it is important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

“During previous strikes, the public responded as we’d asked them to and used our emergency services appropriately for very serious and life-threatening incidents. 

“We are once again asking people to use NHS services wisely and to carefully consider whether they need our services now, especially as the impact of the industrial action will be felt across the NHS.”

Anyone not facing an emergency who cannot wait to speak to a GP can find the best options for their needs via NHS 111 Online at 111.nhs.uk in the first instance, unless the issue concerns a child under 5, when they should call 111. Lots of illnesses can also be managed safely at home, or with a trip to a local pharmacist.