Strikes set to impact services
Slough: More industrial action planned for January
Junior doctors will be striking this Saturday, with more strikes in
January – and the Frimley Health trust has warned that hospitals will be ‘particularly affected.’
There were also strikes on Wednesday. Like those, the next day of strikes begins at 7am.
This is part of nationwide industrial action by BMA (British Medical Association) and HCSA (Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association) junior doctors.
More strikes are set from 7am on Wednesday January 3 to 7am on Tuesday, January 9.
HCSA involvement in January is subject to the outcome of their ongoing ballot.
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Wexham Park and Heatherwood hospitals, are asking people to be prepared to ensure critical NHS services are available for those most in need during this time.
Hospital services will be ‘particularly affected’, they said.
As such, during the strike period, Frimley will ‘redirect resources to protect emergency treatment, intensive care, newborn care, maternity, and trauma.’
It will ‘continue to prioritise cancer treatments, and those patients who have waited the longest for elective procedures,’ they added.
“We are working incredibly hard to mitigate the impact of the industrial action on our services, however we will unfortunately have to reschedule some routine appointments,” Frimley said.
“If you have not been contacted by the trust, we would advise that you attend your appointment as planned, but please continue to check for updates.
“No-one should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes and people with serious, lifethreatening conditions will continue to be seen at our emergency Departments,” Frimley added. “However, please keep 999 and A&E clear for genuine life-threatening emergencies. For non-emergency health needs, you should access the alternative NHS services available to you.”
People are being asked use an alternative NHS service or use NHS 111 first either online or by phone for nonemergencies. If your child is unwell, and you’re not sure where the best place to go for advice is the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website or download the app.
Frimley also asks that people collect family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged.
There is an Urgent Care Centre at Priors Close in Slough.
If you are in a mental health crisis, call 111 or text Shout to 85258, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service.
Visit Frimley Health’s Choose the Right Service page for details of local services.