Whilst the NHS has plans in place to provide safe levels of care to patients over this period, NHS leaders remain extremely concerned that services will be significantly stretched - more so than normal - during Christmas and New Year. Not only is this traditionally the busiest time of the year for urgent and emergency care services, but there will also be further pressures placed on local services such as A&E departments, urgent treatment centres, 999 and 111 services as a result of industrial action.
Junior doctors are planning to strike from 7am Wednesday 20 December 2023 through to 7am Saturday 23 December 2023, and again from 7am Wednesday 3 January 2024 until 7am Tuesday 9 January 2024.
Dr Louise Buchanan, medical director said: “Services will be disrupted over the coming days but our local communities can help us by making sure 999 and A&E are only used for urgent and life-threatening situations.
“Some appointments and treatment have had to be rescheduled to allow us to prioritise those who need us the most. If you have an appointment with us please attend unless we contact you to rearrange - there is no need to contact us.
“We have plans in place to keep emergency and urgent care services running throughout the strikes, but patients should expect disruption and potentially long waits during and immediately after the strike period.
“If you have urgent health needs, that are not life threatening, it’s important to use 111 online or by phone which is available 24/7."
Dr Neil O’Brien, executive medical director for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “Christmas and New Year is always a very busy time for the NHS, but combined with new rounds of industrial action before and after Christmas, and with many staff on arranged annual leave, this is going to be a very, very difficult period for the NHS. In the last few weeks, we have already seen more people needing NHS services, with many people being ill with flu, COVID-19, and norovirus. As a result, people are already having to wait much longer to be seen than we would like.
"If people do require urgent care, the NHS is here to help, and we urge people to come forward. Urgent and emergency services will be open across the region, but it is vital that people must use these services appropriately so that our emergency teams can focus on treating those who are seriously unwell.
"Local GP services, although generally closed on the Christmas bank holidays, will be open as normal throughout the industrial action period, although they are likely to be very busy.”
"I'd also like to thank all health and care teams across the region for their work over this busy time, as always your dedication in helping those people who need help and support is greatly appreciated."
Public are reminded for urgent health needs, which are not life-threatening, www.111.nhs.uk and NHS 111 are available 24 hours a day. A symptom checker can be used to assess symptoms and it will re-direct to a health professional if people need to be seen by someone. Also, self-care advice is available on-line from the NHS at www.nhs.uk.