Strike action update

The British Medical Association has announced that industrial action by Resident Doctors will take place from 7am on Friday 14 November until 7am on Wednesday 19 November.  

The strike action will affect services across all of our hospitals and community sites. 

To keep patients safe during the industrial action we will need to postpone some appointments and procedures. 

We'll contact you directly if your care or your child's care is affected to rearrange your appointment as quickly as possible. 

We understand the distress this may cause, and we are sorry if you or your family are affected. If you have an appointment at any of our hospitals or community sites on these days, please assume this is going ahead unless you have been told otherwise. 

Our emergency department (A&E) during the strike action 

Our emergency department (A&E) at St Thomas' Hospital will remain open during the strike action to treat people who need emergency or urgent care. 

We will prioritise treating patients who need care most urgently. This means you may have to wait longer than usual to be seen.

In the emergency department, we'll assess you or your child as quickly as we're able to. If we feel you need to stay, we will aim to treat you as soon as possible, based on the urgency of your clinical need. 

If we think you could be seen elsewhere, we'll advise you on the most appropriate place to go. If you decide to stay, please be aware you could be waiting a long time to be seen. 

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this causes to your visit and thank you for your understanding. 

Helping us manage demand 

If you need medical advice but it’s not an emergency, please use a different service to get the care you need. You could: 

• call NHS 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk 
• make an appointment with your GP 
• go to a local pharmacist