British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors will be taking strike action this week.
There will be a 96-hour walk-out by junior doctors from 7:00 on Friday 11 August until 7:00 on Tuesday 15 August. Junior doctors comprise roughly half of all doctors in the NHS.
BMA consultants are also taking strike action on Thursday 24 August and Friday 25 August (times TBC).
We have now entered the ninth month of industrial action across the NHS and staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care under the circumstances.
To ensure patient safety and minimise risk during this period, we will need to reduce activity throughout our hospital, allowing us to care for people in most urgent need of our services.
We will prioritise resources to protect as best as possible emergency and urgent treatment such as cardiac arrests, transplantation, critical care, and cancer.
We will contact you
If you were booked for an appointment or procedure during this time and it needs to be postponed, our team will contact you to confirm this.
We are working hard to re-arrange a new date for you as soon as possible and you will receive a new appointment letter when this is confirmed.
If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
Choose services wisely
The NHS is asking patients to choose services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most.
This includes using NHS 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
GP practices will be open during the junior doctors and consultants strike. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
Pharmacies also remain open.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why are the strikes happening?
Trade unions representing some NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over the 2022/23 pay award. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action.
More information and FAQs can be found on the NHS England - information for the public webpage.