Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
GP services are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
On days where there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency [when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk].
Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
During strike days, it is likely 999 and 111 call handlers will be very busy. As a result, we are urging anyone with a non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk).
For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.