British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) junior doctor members will take part in a four-day strike from 6.59am on Tuesday 11 April to 6.59am on Saturday 15 April. The 96 hours of industrial action will follow the bank holidays on Good Friday (7 April) and Easter Monday (10 April).
The days leading into and immediately after bank holiday weekends are usually challenging for us and the industrial action which follows is also unprecedented.
We are expecting to be incredibly busy and, along with our NHS colleagues across Lancashire and South Cumbria, are issuing the following advice to service users and the wider public during that period:
Prescriptions
Order your prescriptions for medication as soon as possible, as GP practices will be closed on Friday 7 April (Good Friday) and Monday 10 April (Easter Monday). They may also be affected by the four-day junior doctors’ strike.
Find out which pharmacies will be open in your area.
Mental health assistance
If you are struggling with your mental health and need some support, we have people available to speak to you 24 hours a day on our Crisis Line on 0800 953 0110.
If you need medical care
There are a range of health services to support people if they feel unwell or have any health concerns. There are services which you may be unfamiliar with but could be more appropriate and convenient for you depending on your issue.
Please remember that all health services get incredibly busy, resulting in longer waiting times for you to be seen, if people use the wrong service for their need. Wanting to seek medical advice quickly does not always mean an emergency and there are lots of alternatives to going to A&E, including calling our Crisis Line on 0800 953 0110 for mental health support.
Know the facts and choose the right NHS service and support for you.
You can also get medical care or advice on the NHS 111 helpline, or by visiting 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).
Attending appointments
Please attend appointments as planned unless you have been contacted and told they have been affected and need to be rescheduled.
The NHS.UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.
For more advice for the public about the upcoming industrial action, you can visit the NHS England website.
