Following a ballot of members at NHS organisations, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed that members at the following organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria plan to take strike action on Wednesday 18 January and Thursday 19 January:
- NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT)
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTH)
Trust services will be under significant pressures during the strike action. However, they are working hard to make sure that they maintain patient safety and experience whilst supporting nurses and HCAs to observe their right to strike. Patients whose appointment or treatment will be affected are being contacted directly by the relevant Trust. If you are worried, please speak to the department where you are receiving care or Patient Experience and PALS service.
Trusts’ websites can be accessed at the links below:
https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/
Separately, Unison and Unite members of North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) will strike on 23 January and GMB members on 24 January. This means reduced ambulance crews but also reduced 999 and 111 call handling staff.
Please help us to ensure our services are available for those who need them most. Please look at the alternative options available for accessing NHS services if your condition is not urgent.
- Please only use 999 or visit A&E in emergency and life-threatening cases.
- Advice is available from NHS 111 online at https://111.nhs.uk/. The online service can provide the same advice and help as the phone service. You will be directed to the best service for your needs if you're not sure what to do and a clinician call will call you back if needed.
- You can find self-care advice on www.nhs.uk.
- Consider using your local pharmacy for expert help and advice for every-day conditions.
- Online services are available, where you can request repeat prescriptions via the NHS app or your practice patient online service.
- There are a number of services available locally to help you such as your GP practice, Urgent Treatment Centres and pharmacies. You can find out more about these and which to use when at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/NHShealthwise.
- Pre-bookable, routine appointments are also available at evening and weekends thanks to the new enhanced access contract. You can access these appointments by speaking to the reception team at your GP practice.
- You can also ‘help us help you’ by ensuring you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having your autumn booster dose and your seasonal flu vaccination, if eligible.
It is essential that if you need urgent medical care that you continue to come forward – especially in emergency and life-threatening cases, when someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. However, if you do have to attend hospital please do not expect to be seen straight away and be patient with staff, they will be monitoring you and if your condition worsens while waiting please let them know. Due to the potential of a long wait please be prepared and bring any medications with you as well as some money for food and drink and if you have a portable phone charger then bring that with you too.
There is also regularly updated information online from NHS England:
• NHS England » Information for the public on industrial action