News and media releases from the Surrey Heartlands area
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Surrey’s Joint Chief Medical Officer urges people to use the NHS responsibly as further industrial action hits already busy services
Surrey’s Joint Chief Medical Officer urges people to use the NHS responsibly as further industrial action hits already busy services
As resident doctors in Surrey begin further strike action tomorrow, Surrey’s NHS is encouraging people to use services responsibly, ahead of further disruption to services over the coming days.
This time the impact of industrial action is expected to be exacerbated by the high demand for services already being experienced, with cases of flu peaking earlier and predicted to grow, amid mounting concerns over what is expected to be one of the worst flu seasons the NHS has seen.
This comes as resident doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA) plan to strike for a further five consecutive days from 07:00 on Wednesday 17th December until 06:59 on 22 December.
As we move into this latest period of action, Surrey’s Joint Chief Medical Officer is urging people to help the local NHS by using the right service, including making full use of local minor injury and walk-in centres if they do need urgent help, so people who are critically unwell can get the care they need.
Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for NHS Surrey Heartlands explains:
We have well-rehearsed plans in place to manage periods of disruption, working together across health and care organisations – but as we move into winter, services are already pressured with more cases of flu and other winter-related illnesses so we expect the coming days to be challenging as work together to keep essential services running with fewer staff.
Hospital trusts are putting arrangements in place to minimise disruption to routine appointments and planned procedures where possible but unfortunately we expect to see some disruption as we prioritise urgent, emergency, trauma, maternity and care for those who need us most.
Over the coming days we are again asking members of the public for their support in using services responsibly and appropriately, making full use of NHS 111, local walk-in centres and urgent treatment centres, to help us keep A&E and 999 for those who are critically unwell.
Over the coming days services are likely to be busier and waits may be longer so we are also asking people to be patient, as our frontline teams continue to work incredibly hard, as they prioritise critical services and make sure people get the care they need.
If people need to access health advice and treatment during this period of planned industrial action we are encouraging them to still come forward – and to use services appropriately:
- People should continue to use pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres, the NHS App and NHS 111 online or by phone 24/7 for urgent health advice
- 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 appointments or procedures have been affected by industrial action the local NHS will contact people directly to reschedule them as soon as possible. If people haven’t been contacted, they should attend appointments as usual.
There are Minor Injury Units, Urgent Treatment Centres and Walk-in Centres across Surrey. Full details of local services, and what they can treat, can be found on our website - and people should use NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice 24/7 if they are not sure which service they need.