Appeal for public support as consultants, junior doctors and radiographers take part in further industrial action

Health leaders in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are once again calling for the public to support local health services during a forthcoming period of industrial action which will see junior doctors, consultants and radiographers all take part in strikes at the same time.

Junior doctors and consultants are due to stage walkouts from 7am on Monday 2 October to 7am on Thursday 5 October.

For the first time in this ongoing period of industrial action, they will be joined by radiographers who will be on strike from 8am on Tuesday 3 October to 8am on Wednesday 4 October.

During this time, hospitals will be providing a level of service similar to that on Christmas Day, which means routine appointments and operations are likely to be postponed and waiting times for urgent care longer than usual.

Radiography services will also be disrupted at Minor Injury Units across the area.

Local health service leaders are asking the public to support them during this period by collecting prescriptions early, attending appointments unless told otherwise and only using emergency care services in genuine, life-threatening situations to help limit disruption and ensure those most in need are prioritised for care.

Dr Amanda Webb, Chief Medical Officer at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said:

“We are now entering the eleventh month of industrial action across the NHS and we’d like to thank the public for their ongoing support during this extremely difficult time.

“Services have already been seriously disrupted during this period and we are expecting the situation to be significantly worse this time, particularly on Tuesday when junior doctors, consultants and radiographers will all be on strike simultaneously.

“We are asking patients to help by choosing services carefully if needed during industrial action, to help ensure that urgent care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for non-urgent health needs and using 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.

“If you have not been contacted about a scheduled appointment, please attend as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.

“Your ongoing support really makes a difference.”

Further information about health and care services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, along with details of local pharmacies, can be found at www.bswtogether.org.uk/yourhealth.