NHS leaders warn South Londoners to take extra care over bank holiday strikes

NHS leaders are urging people to take extra care this weekend during a “highly challenging period” of strike action.

People have been asked to only use emergency departments for life-threatening illness or serious injury over the weekend.

Some nurses at Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will be on strike from 8pm on Sunday until 11:59pm on Monday.

Members of the Unite union who work at Guy’s and St Thomas’, including some pharmacists, nurses, security and switchboard staff, will also be on strike from 7am on Monday until 7am on Wednesday.

The industrial action is taking place at a difficult time as the days before and after bank holiday weekends are often the most challenging for the NHS.

The NHS anticipates pressures on a more limited workforce for the days immediately before, during and after the strikes.

Andrew Bland, chief executive of South East London Integrated Care Board, said: “This is a very challenging time for the NHS across the country.

“Our dedicated and hardworking staff in South East London will continue to do their very best to support patients as much as possible.

“Patient safety remains the top priority. We are asking residents of South East London to take extra care and help out their local NHS by using the right service.”

To allow staff to focus on treating those patients that need care most urgently, patients with non-urgent needs may be directed to other healthcare services where appropriate. 

This will ensure that emergency and urgent care is available for those who most need it.

During the strike, people with an NHS appointment should attend as planned unless they have been contacted and told their appointment has to be rescheduled. GP surgeries will be open as usual on Friday and Tuesday.

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Pat Cullen said: “The full weight of government gave ministers this victory over nursing staff. It is the darkest day of this dispute so far – the government taking its own nurses through the courts in bitterness at their simple expectation of a better pay deal.

“Nursing staff will be angered but not crushed by today’s interim order. It may even make them more determined to vote in next month’s reballot for a further six months of strike action. Nobody wants strikes until Christmas – we should be in the negotiating room, not the courtroom today.

“The government has won this legal battle. But they have lost the support of nursing staff and the public. The most trusted profession has been taken through the courts, by the least trusted people.”

People can also help by checking in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and relatives.

www.selondonics.org/usetherightservice gives clear information on the range of
services available so people can access the right healthcare.

Pictured top: Striking nurses outside Royal Courts of Justice (Picture: Royal College of Nurses)