You may be aware that there is upcoming industrial action affecting NHS colleagues due to take place on the following dates:
Wednesday 11 January – This is a Unison strike, with colleagues from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) partaking.
Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 January (two days) – This is a strike by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Monday 23 January – Again, this is a Unison strike, with colleagues from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) partaking.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) staff will not be partaking in the strike action. However, some NHS organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria will, as we have described.
Here is some advice for during the periods when industrial action is underway:
If you need medical care
For medical care or advice, please call the NHS 111 helpline, or visit NHS 111 Online.
Please contact NHS 111 if:
- You need medical help fast, but it's not a 999 emergency.
- You don't know who to call for medical help or you don't have a GP to call.
- You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service; or.
- You require health information or reassurance about what to do next
Always call 999 in 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 during the strike action, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
Attending appointments
LSCft appointments are not affected as our staff are not partaking in industrial action, however, you may have an appointment with a neighbouring trust or service.
Please attend your appointment as planned unless you have been contacted and told it’s been affected and needs to be rescheduled.
GP services are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
The NHS.UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.
Frequently asked questions
What is happening?
Trade unions representing NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over the 2022/23 pay award. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action. As a result, some members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are striking on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 January 2023, and members of Unison (ambulance staff) are striking on Wednesday 11 and Monday 23 January.
Pay is a matter for the Government and the trade unions.
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online or call NHS 111 to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999 or attending A&E.
What do strikes mean for NHS services in my area?
Like LSCft, not every hospital and ambulance service will be affected by strike action. You can check which Trusts are affected on each trade union’s website.
What if I have an appointment on a strike day?
Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned, unless your local NHS provider has contacted you to reschedule. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment even if your Trust is affected by strikes.
Will emergency care be affected on strike days?
Emergency care will continue to be available across all parts of the country. It is really important that in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or their life is at risk patients continue to come forward as normal.
Will GP services be affected on strike days?
GP services will be running as normal on strike days. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a letter or phone call, and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
Is there anything I should do now?
No, the NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?
No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
What should I do if I need an ambulance?
On strike days, patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, and there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate.
For all other health care needs support will be available through NHS 111 online, via the NHS 111 helpline or at your local GP or pharmacy.
The NHS.UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.
What is considered an emergency?
Patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, or there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate.
How long will services be impacted?
The nurses strikes on 18 and 19 January 2023 will last for 12 hours and the ambulance strikes on 11 and 23 January 2023 will last for up to 24 hours (this will vary across different ambulance services). However patients should be aware that it may take slightly longer for services to return to normal.
