LCH Industrial Action Update
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust was notified that members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the HCSA – the hospital doctors’ union, working as Junior Doctors have voted in favour of strike action. The strike dates have been announced as 13 - 16 March at 7am 2023.
We are working hard to make sure we continue to safely offer our patients care and support planned during strike action and we have tried and tested plans in place to do this.
There is no need to contact your service about your appointment, your service will be in touch with you if there is any change to your appointment on these days.
Remember you can always:
- Get in touch with your GP for non-urgent health concerns and new health concerns.
- Call NHS 111 if you need urgent care.
- Only call 999 in a life threatening emergency.
We can all play our part to protect ourselves and those around us. Check the local service information and self-care tips available on our ‘Together We Can’ website.
Key Resources from NHS England
- Briefing - Industrial Action Winter 2023
- NHS sets out advice for the public during industrial action
Frequently Asked Questions with answers from NHS England
What is happening?
Trade unions representing some 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 members of the following unions are striking on the dates listed below:
13 March – Junior doctors who are part of the BMA and the HCSA, and some members of the British Dental Association who are hospital dentists on junior doctors contracts at a small number of NHS Trusts and healthcare workers who are part of GMB at a small number of NHS Trusts
14 March – Junior doctors who are part of the BMA and the HCSA and some members of the British Dental Association who are hospital dentists on junior doctors contracts at a small number of NHS Trusts
15 March – Junior doctors who are part of the BMA and the HCSA and some members the British Dental Association who are hospital dentists on junior doctors contracts at a small number of NHS Trusts
16 March – Junior doctors who are part of the BMA and the HCSA, and some members the British Dental Association who are hospital dentists on junior doctors contracts at a small number of NHS Trusts
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?
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:
GMB
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
HCSA
British Medical Association (BMA)
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 unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
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.
What will this mean for appointments?
During strike action we will prioritise emergency treatment and patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen. Unfortunately, this means we may have to prioritise emergency care over some routine appointments and procedures. 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.
Is there anything I should do now?
To avoid delays in getting your medicines or the risk of running out of medicines during strikes please order prescriptions in good time.
Will dentists be impacted?
The British Dental Association has advised that some of their members who work in hospitals on trainee contracts will take action on the same days as junior doctors. However the vast majority of dentists will continue to work. Please continue to attend any dental appointments unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
How long will services be impacted?
The junior doctors strikes by members of the British Medical Association, BDA and HCSA will last for 72 hours from 13 - 16 March at 7am. Ambulance service strikes will last for up to 26 hours.
