As you may be aware, the British Medical association (BMA) has confirmed that resident doctors in England will be striking for 5 consecutive days - from 7am on Friday 25th July to 7am on Wednesday 30th July.
We expect, and are planning for, reduced medical staffing levels at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust during this time. This will have an impact on some aspects of the services we provide but please rest assured that our teams are working hard to limit this. We will ensure that we continue to deliver safe care and we will carefully prioritise care when this is necessary.
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.
Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
On days where there is strike action, patients 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].
Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or through NHS 111, and where possible, it is advised that you arrange alternative transport.
For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website: NHS England » Information for the public on industrial action
FAQs
Trade unions representing NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over pay. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action. As a result, resident doctor members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are expected to be striking from 7am on Friday 25th July to 7am on Wednesday 30th July.
The NHS wants to see a resolution as soon as possible, but pay is a matter for the Government and the trade unions.
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.
All hospitals will be affected by the industrial action, however, the ambulance service is not affected.
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
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.
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.
No, the NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.