Posted on: 16 February 2024
The NHS in West Yorkshire is urging people to plan ahead and to choose the right service for their healthcare needs, as it prepares for the latest period of industrial action.
Junior doctor members of the British Medical Association will strike from 7am on Saturday 24 to 11:59pm on Wednesday 28 February, with members of the HCSA, the hospital doctors' union taking action until 06.59am on Thursday 29 February 2024.
Junior doctors are fully trained doctors with up to eight years of experience – they account for around 50% of doctors working in the NHS. This means that NHS services will be under a huge amount of pressure leading up to, and during the strike, though hospitals will be doing everything they can to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure the safety of patients.
Dr James Thomas, Medical Director for the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said:
“The safety and care of people who use our services is our highest priority, and it is important that people continue to use our services when they need them.
“NHS teams across West Yorkshire will be working throughout the strike period to keep people safe and well, but services will be affected. Our region’s hospitals and mental health trusts will be significantly impacted, as will some GP practices, and this will have a knock on effect on other parts of the healthcare system.
“That’s why we’re asking everyone to work with us to ensure they’re prepared for their medical needs during the strike action.
“Some hospital appointments and planned treatment may need to be rearranged but please attend any booked appointments unless you hear otherwise. Healthcare teams will contact people as soon as possible if your appointment needs to be changed.
“If you take regular medication, check you have enough, and if you need more, please order and collect it before the planned strikes. Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet can also help with minor injuries or ailments.
“If you or someone close to you needs medical help, please get advice about the most appropriate treatment option by using 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or calling 111 if you don’t have access to the internet. Remember 999 and A&E departments are for the most serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses.”
NHS 111 is a free, 24 hour online or phone service that provides help and advice on the most appropriate medical care; it can also arrange phone consultations with healthcare professionals and book appointments at urgent treatment and out of hours medical centres. Parents and carers of young children can also find health advice on the West Yorkshire Healthier Together website.
Mental health support will continue to be available throughout the holidays and strike period. Visit togetherwe-can.com/mental-health for details of local services. For urgent help in a mental health crisis, call your local 24 hr helpline:
- Bradford 0800 952 1181
- Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield 0800 183 0558.
Regardless of the planned strike action, the NHS is urging anyone who needs medical care to continue to come forward in the normal way: attending booked appointments unless they are contacted; using NHS 111 for advice on which service to use; or calling 999 or going to your nearest emergency department (A&E) if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is happening?
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced junior doctors will take strike action from 07:00 on Saturday 24 February to 23:59 on Wednesday 28 February. Ahead of the latest action, The BMA has advised their members that shifts that start on Wednesday 28 February and end on Thursday 29 February should be completed in full, including starting the shift on Wednesday 28 February.
Hospital Consultants and Specialists Assoc (HCSA) has announced that their junior doctor members will be on strike from 06:59 on Saturday 24 February until shifts starting after 0700 on Thursday 29 February.
What do strikes mean for NHS services in my area?
The strikes announced cover junior doctors across the NHS. This means action will impact every hospital, as well as mental health services and some GP practices.
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. If you do not have internet access, then 111 helpline is available. When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999.
Can the NHS provide safe services during strikes?
The NHS is working hard to minimise the risk to patient safety. This means we will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only reschedule appointments and procedures where it is necessary and will rebook immediately, where possible.
If staff are out on strike, what does it mean for emergency care?
In advance of strike action, health services work with unions to agree which members of staff can continue to work to ensure safe levels of care. These agreements are called derogations and often mean that some health union members will continue their work in line with an agreement between employers and unions. Where derogations have not been agreed, staff may have to be moved from other departments within a hospital to ensure emergency care can continue to be provided. Unfortunately, this could mean disruption to some routine appointments and procedures.
What is considered an emergency?
Patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, and there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate.
Will emergency care be affected on strike days?
Emergency care will continue to be available across all parts of the country. It is really important that in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill, or their life is at risk patients continue to come forward as normal.
What will this mean for appointments?
During strike action emergency treatment will be prioritised and patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen. Unfortunately, this means emergency care may have to prioritised over some routine appointments and procedures. Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned unless your local NHS provider has contacted you to reschedule. If they have not contacted you, please attend your appointment even if your Trust is affected by strikes.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a text, phone call or a letter and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
If my appointment is rescheduled, will I be put back to the bottom of the waiting list?
Any appointments that need to be rescheduled will be done so as a priority.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?
No, if you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
I have a loved one who will be a hospital inpatient on strike day – how will their care be affected?
All hospital inpatients will be informed of how their care will be impacted on a ward-by-ward basis by the staff involved in delivering their care.
Will GP services be affected on strike days?
Junior doctors’ strikes may impact some appointments. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.