Help us minimise impact of strike, hospital chiefs urge South Londoners
By Kelsey McCabe
The NHS is asking that the public avoid seeking non-emergency treatment at South London hospitals during the junior doctors’ strike.
During the strike, which is due to end on Tuesday, the NHS asks that patients to help minimise the disruption to NHS services by seeking treatment at hospitals only if experiencing a serious injury or life-threatening illness.
This will ensure that emergency care is available to those who need it most while services are understaffed during the strike. Prioritized services include emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity wards and trauma units.
Dr Toby Garrood, medical director for NHS south east London, said: “Junior doctors going on strike will place additional strain on NHS services. Combined with the substantial disruption caused by the recent cyber attack on Synnovis, this will naturally cause concern among people in south east London.
“Our top priority is providing urgent care to those who need it most. To make this possible, we ask that south east London residents help us to help them get the care they need by using the most appropriate service, both during and after the strike.”
The NHS asked that those seeking non-emergency treatment instead go to urgent care centres, speak with their general practitioner or pharmacist, or use NHS’s 111 Online to determine their best course of action.
Andrew Bland, chief executive of NHS South East London, said: “We know that strikes can cause major disruption to local residents, and I want to thank south east London residents for their continued support.
“I urge everyone to continue making use of the full range of services available as we continue to work to resolve the disruption caused by recent events.”
During the strike, the NHS plans to only cancel appointments and procedures when necessary, and says that patients with scheduled appointments should attend as planned.
NHS South East London leads NHS services in Southwark, Lambeth, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham.Â
Pictured top: Strikers’ badges (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Rathfelder)
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