Hospitals in Lancashire and South Cumbria are gearing up to cope with the latest round of industrial action as both junior doctors and consultants get ready to strike.
Unions have announced 120 hours of continuous junior doctors’ strike action from 7am tomorrow (Thursday July 13) until 7am on Tuesday July 18.
It has also been announced that consultant doctors will be taking strike action for 48 hours from 7am on Thursday 20 July until 7am on Saturday 22 July. During the two days of action, consultants will provide ‘Christmas Day cover’, meaning they will continue to provide all emergency services, but routine services will be impacted.
Craig Harris, chief of strategy, commissioning and integration at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which organises health services for the region, said: “We are now entering the eighth month of the most disruptive and significant period of industrial action the NHS has ever seen.
“The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage the disruption caused by industrial action, but these unprecedented strikes will lead to significant service disruption meaning services may feel different for patients. This could include longer waits and deferred treatment.
“We ask people to use services wisely and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to those who need it most. This includes using NHS 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.”
The most recent industrial action by junior doctors in June saw 12,800 hospital appointments across the North West disrupted over three days. The next strike is over five days so is likely to see more appointments disrupted and will be closely followed by consultant strikes.
Almost half of all hospital doctors in the country are junior doctors and hospital consultants are the NHS’s most senior clinicians, whose roles cannot be covered by other staff.
Local NHS services will be using their websites and social media channels to provide up-to-date information to the public about local service disruption
More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
Police issue quicksand warning after riverbank danger for school pupils in Lancaster
Lancaster animal shelter launches 'Big Build' fundraiser to help save charity
LISTEN: Morecambe "definitely submitting a bid" to become first UK Town of Culture
Heysham Port upgrade blamed for traffic chaos 'trapping residents in their homes'
LISTEN: Tourism champs hail Eden Project and Tour de France as huge for Morecambe Bay area
Donation helps college pan ability football team to play in national championships
LISTEN: Meet the new manager of the Midland Hotel in Morecambe
LISTEN: Main contractor to build Eden Project Morecambe to be announced this month
£1.2m of funding for flood defence schemes in Lancaster district announced
Morecambe Bay hospital trust unveils new painless blood test
Thousands raised to help boost return of Lancaster Music Festival
High street computer games shop in Lancaster closes down
LISTEN: Carnforth actor wins Hollywood and Paris awards for horror film role
"1600 potholes repaired last week" says councillor as roads debate rumbles on
Burger King takeaway in Lancaster city centre closes down
Morecambe lifeboat crew reunite dog lost on sands with owner
New Morrisons Daily supermarket opens in Morecambe
Council investigate after derelict food trailer found dumped in Lancaster layby
Man charged after pedestrian died in Morecambe hit and run
LISTEN: We go out on Pothole Patrol in Morecambe
