People across Lancashire and South Cumbria are being reminded that consultants on strike this week in the run-up to the Bank Holiday weekend.
Unions announced that consultant doctors in England will once again be taking industrial action over 48 hours, from 7am today (Thursday 24 August) until 7am on Saturday 26 August, as their ongoing pay dispute with the government continues.
The strike will once again be based on Christmas Day levels of cover, meaning emergency care will still be provided.
Increased demand on health services is usually anticipated during the Summer Bank Holiday weekend, with hundreds of thousands of extra visitors expected in the region during one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourism.
Members of the public are asked to be mindful of the strikes when considering which health services they need to use during the period of strike action.
Patients are reminded that the NHS will be in contact if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned. This includes your GP and dentist appointments.
Maggie Oldham, deputy chief executive for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which organises healthcare services in the region, said: “We are extremely grateful for the public’s support during this lengthy period of industrial action and we thank them for continuing to use NHS services appropriately during these times of pressure.
“There is likely to be significant impact upon local services once again across the two days of strike action and the three-day bank holiday weekend, with the increased number of people expected to be visiting our tourism hotspots.
“Services may feel different for patients, with longer waits or deferred treatment as the NHS prioritises resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.
“It is extremely important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
There is also increased demand on pharmacies ahead of a bank holiday weekend, with only a small number of pharmacies across the region opening on bank holiday Monday (28 August) to provide expert advice and deal with minor ailments and illnesses. Details of which pharmacies will be open on the bank holiday are available at https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/our-work/your-local-services/pharmacy
People are urged to get repeat prescription orders in early to give their GP practice and pharmacy plenty of notice to have their prescriptions ready to collect.
Anyone with a health complaint who is unsure what to do should visit www.111.nhs.uk for immediate advice. In a life-threatening situation, people should always call 999.
Four arrests made after robberies and burglaries at Morecambe and Lancaster shops
MP welcomes return of British Transport Police back to Lancaster station
Ryelands Community Connect initiative aims to bring together locals
Twenty vehicles caught speeding during police crackdown in Lancaster
Councillors call for halt to demolition of vandalised Morecambe 'youth hut'
Coastal pollution clean-up training to be held on Morecambe beach
Man seriously injured at Morecambe pub "making excellent progress" as investigation continues
Vandals target tractors used by King's Guide to Sands of Morecambe Bay to keep walkers safe
MP hopes for improved mobile signal at last as new mast installed in Lancaster
Maternity services at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary officially exit national special measures
Crews tackle kitchen fire in Lancaster
Opening date announced for animal rescue charity's new Morecambe home
Lancaster MP takes on Morecambe 10K in aid of new children's playground
Tributes paid to twice-Lancaster mayor who served on council for 56 years
Dancing Eric Morecambe Statue part of police campaign to warn about AI deepfakes
PHOTOS: Great Wall of China trek raises more than £300K for Lancaster hospice
Another earthquake hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Lancaster and Morecambe Bay
Fire crews tackle vehicle fire on M6 near Lancaster
Poetry in motion as live workshop comes to Morecambe rail journey
Lancaster pupils highlight school crossing patrol road safety campaign
