Ahead of an unprecedented double-whammy of NHS strike action on Monday, North East health leaders have called on the public to again think carefully before calling 999 or heading to A&E.
Emergency and urgent care units will remain open, and ambulance service staff are set to again operate "life and limb" cover - but with the first of two consecutive days of action from nurses in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) coinciding with action from the GMB's ambulance staff, staffing pressure in the NHS is likely to be extreme. Patients have again been told to expect delays.
RCN nurses at Newcastle Hospitals, Gateshead Health, Northumbria Healthcare and the County Durham and Darlington NHS trusts are all walking out on Monday - as are RCN and GMB staff at the North East Ambulance Service. The nursing strike will also last through Tuesday. The ambulance service will then see further walkouts on February 10 involving UNISON members.
This comes as the RCN has urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to directly intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute - with NHS staff upset at a pay offer which would see a substantially below inflation rise of between three and four per cent for most. And the NHS Confederation body has warned that the longer the dispute goes on, the first NHS strikes took place in December, the more appointments and procedures are cancelled and that the Government needs to step in and negotiate.
In the North East, Dr Neil O'Brien, Executive Medical Director for the NHS's North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "It is going to be another challenging few days with more services across the region affected. We have plans in place to ensure the safety of those patients who may need our help in an emergency, and we are putting into practice all that worked well from the previous industrial action.
"However, patients should expect long delays at a time when services continue to be under significant pressure. Patients should continue to attend scheduled appointments as planned unless they hear from the NHS to say otherwise. Any postponed appointments will be re-arranged as a priority."
He also urged anyone seriously ill or injured to continue to call 999. However, for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, people are advised to use the NHS 111 service online or speak to their pharmacist or GP.
In a warning to In a warning to the Government, this weekend the NHS Confederation said "the intensifying waves of industrial action”, must be brought to an end. The organisation said there was a “growing fatigue” among NHS leaders given the cumulative impact of the strikes, adding it was becoming harder to deal with the constant disruption.
Matthew Taylor, the body's chief executive, said: “NHS leaders have managed the impact of the individual strike days very well up until now, but they are growing increasingly restless about the impact this dispute is having on patient care at a time when they have made solid progress to recover services after the pandemic.
“We face a hugely disruptive week for patients, with five consecutive days of walkouts planned, and the Government cannot afford to let this escalate any further."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our sympathies are with anyone whose care has been affected as a result of strike action, and we urge unions to carefully consider the impact on patients. The Health and Social Care Secretary has been having constructive discussions with unions about the 2023/24 pay process, and wants to continue talking about what is affordable."
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