Surrey’s NHS prepares for further strike action, amid soaring temperatures | News centre

Surrey’s NHS warns of possible disruption as it prepares for further strike action, amid soaring temperatures

As temperatures soar and hospital attendances increase due to the warm weather, Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership – which brings together NHS organisations and wider partners across Surrey – is preparing for further planned industrial action by junior doctors, who are part of the British Medical Association (BMA), which starts at 7am on Wednesday (14 June) and runs for 72 hours until 06:59 on Saturday (17^th June).

Health leaders are warning of disruption to some services and reminding people to stay safe during the current period of warm weather, which is already leading to more people attending A&E and using NHS 111 and ambulance services.

Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System and Surrey GP explains:

Working together across health and care organisations, we have well-rehearsed plans in place to manage periods of planned industrial action, where we will continue to prioritise critical services – but unfortunately, this means some appointments and planned operations will have to be rescheduled.

During the last period of strike action by junior doctors, at its peak over 400 junior doctors working in organisations across Surrey Heartlands took part and, as a result, over the four day period, we rescheduled over 450 planned procedures and over 2,500 outpatients appointments.

We don’t yet know how many junior doctors will take part this time – and people will be contacted directly if their appointment needs to be changed - but we expect some services to be affected. The current period of warm weather will add to the challenge for our frontline teams, where we see an increase in people coming to hospital or using services as temperatures soar - so following a few simple steps, such as drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding the hottest part of the day and using sun lotion with a high UVA protection, all really help.

Ahead of the strike period, we asked members of the public for their support in using services responsibly and appropriately and helping us keep A&E and 999 for medical emergencies.

With warm weather expected to last all week, the local NHS is also encouraging people to stay safe and well by following a few simple steps:

• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Keeping out of the sun during the hottest part of the day
• Wearing cool clothing and sun lotion with high UVA protection
• Checking on elderly family members and neighbours who can be more susceptible to hot weather

If people need to access health advice and treatment during this week’s period of planned industrial action (which runs from 7am on Wednesday 14^th June until 06.59 on Saturday 17^th June), we are encouraging them to still come forward – and to use services responsibly and appropriately:

• People should continue to use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent health advice – when it’s not a medical emergency - or call 111 if people do not have access to the internet.
• People should only use 999 and A&E for serious or life-threatening conditions or medical emergencies (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
• If people’s appointments or procedures have been affected by industrial action the local NHS will contact people directly to reschedule them as soon as possible.

Dr Canniff added:

We are expecting this week’s industrial action, and the continued warm weather, to put more pressure on local services, so we are asking people to be patient, particularly if services are busier and waits are longer than usual, and be kind to our staff, who are working incredibly hard – and doing their best to make sure you get the care you need.

 

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