Sussex NHS Advice During Junior Doctors' Strike

Junior doctors are taking five days of industrial action: and Sussex's NHS chiefs are asking for the public's help to preserve the service.

The British Medical Association's junior doctors' committee has called for strikes from yesterday (11 August) to 15 August.

It's the fifth set of actions taken amid a difficult dispute with the government over pay.

The BMA has rejected ministers' offer of a 6% rise for doctors, with the union council's chair Prof Philip Banfield saying it fails to address "a decade's worth of sub-inflation pay awards".

Meanwhile in Sussex, NHS leaders have thanked members of the public for help across previous strikes, by choosing "the most appropriate service" from the service.

On Friday, NHS groups in Sussex warned the impact of the latest strikes will be very challenging for local services, citing as particular concerns the school summer holidays, a time when staffing rotas are traditionally already lower.

They say patient safety will be prioritised, and health and care partners are working together to ensure that critical services will continue to be available.

Planned appointments and clinics are likely to be affected; however, people should continue to attend their appointments unless they are contacted directly by the NHS.

Patients do not need to contact their NHS service or team in advance, because the team should contact patients directly if an appointment needs to be rescheduled.

Delays are expected for those patients who attend emergency departments, but do not have time-critical or life-threatening conditions.

NHS chiefs say:

• "Choose the most appropriate NHS service for needs and only use 999 and A&E or Emergency Departments for serious or life-threatening emergencies.
• For anything that isn’t a life-saving emergency, use an alternative NHS service and to use NHS 111 first either online or by phone.
• Know it may take longer than expected to be seen and treated.
• Collect family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged.
• Stay away from hospitals if showing the symptoms of flu or COVID-19 (or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19), unless it is an emergency."

Dr Dinesh Sinha, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Sussex, said:

"I would like to thank people in Sussex for helping the NHS during the several periods of industrial action the NHS has faced this year, and allowing us to care for those most in need.

"This week we will continue to prioritise emergency care, but we really need the public’s support again to be able to provide high quality NHS care to our local communities, patients, families, and carers.

"That’s why we are asking people to carry on supporting the NHS so that services can focus on those most unwell. I want to urge the public to ‘Help Us Help You’ to ensure people are able to access the care and support they need."

Pharmacies, walk-in centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres will continue to be available, the NHS said.

These are open during the industrial action and can help people with a range of injuries and illnesses.