Public asked to use health services appropriately as impact of industrial action expected to last into next week

People across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being reminded that hospital services are still under extreme pressure as a result of ongoing industrial action by junior doctors and the impact is expected to remain into next week.

The industrial action began at 7am on Monday 10 April and is set to continue until 7am on Saturday 15 April.

As a result, services at local hospitals are expected to remain under intense pressure during the weekend and into the beginning of next week and local people are being asked to continue to help by understanding what local services are available to them and using them appropriately over the coming days.

Gill May, Chief Nurse at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said:
“Our colleagues across BSW have been working incredibly hard since the industrial action started on Monday and we expect the resulting pressures on our services to become more challenging each day this strike progresses.

“We would like to thank members of the public for their support over the past few days but we are reminding people that this period of industrial action will continue until Saturday morning and services will be extremely busy over the weekend and into the early part of next week.”

Dr Jon Westbrook, Chief Medical Officer at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon said:

“It’s important that local people know that while our services are busier than usual, and waiting times may be longer, all patients who need our help will be seen by a clinical practitioner.

“It’s also crucial that people only come to hospital if they really need to be here and they are aware that appropriate treatment that better suits their needs can be found through local GP Practices, Pharmacies and other health care services.

“People can also use NHS 111 online if they are not sure what to do, or which service to use. It’s available 24 hours a day, every day.

“For life-threatening emergencies people should continue to call 999.”

More information about local health services and how to access them across BSW can be found at the BSW Together Your Health website: www.bswtogether.org.uk/yourhealth/