Advice for Patients during Industrial Action within the NHS: 

• Junior doctors will strike from Wednesday 20 September to Friday 22 September and from Monday 2 October to Wednesday 4 October.
• Hospital consultants will take part in strike action on Tuesday 19 September and Wednesday 20 September and from Monday 2 October to Wednesday 4 October.
• The October strikes will be the first-ever joint strike action between the groups of doctors. During the joint strikes, junior doctors and consultants will provide “Christmas Day” cover during the planned industrial action, meaning minimal emergency services will remain open but elective care will not.
• The strikes are likely to cause major disruption to NHS services across West Yorkshire.
• Junior doctors make up around half of all doctors in the NHS. Junior doctors are qualified doctors who have anywhere up to eight years’ experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice.
• During strike action, the NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.
• We will only cancel appointments and procedures where it is necessary and will reschedule immediately, where possible. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
• The NHS is asking patients to choose services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
• If you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.
• People 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].
• The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
• If you’re travelling to other parts of the country:
  • If you’re away and need a GP appointment, please call your surgery back home. Your own surgery is used to helping by phone, video and email. And if you need a prescription, they can send it to any pharmacy you choose.
  • Make sure you have enough of your prescribed medications. You can easily order repeat prescriptions via the NHS App, though your GP practice website or, if you do not have access to GP online services, by calling your GP practice.
  • Ensure you have a fully stocked first aid kit at home or with you. Find out what you need here https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/what-should-i-keep-in-my-first-aid-kit/
• For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.