Industrial action and local NHS services - BNSSG
14 Dec 2022
Industrial action and local NHS services
Following on from our email on Friday, below is some useful information ahead of tomorrow’s (Thursday, 15 December) industrial action, and other issues in health and care at the moment.
If you can please share this information with your contacts, colleagues, communities, and partners, it would be very much appreciated. The below includes useful links to our website and social media accounts too.
Industrial action and local NHS servicesThe NHS in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) is working hard to keep patients safe during the planned strikes, while delivering the best care possible.
Patients who have a planned appointment on 15 or 20 December should continue to attend, unless they are contacted to reschedule. This includes appointments at GP practices.
No-one should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes and people with serious, life-threatening conditions will continue to be seen at our Emergency Departments.
On days when there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency. Ambulances will still respond in these situations but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
Many parts of the NHS are likely to feel the impact of the industrial action, either directly or indirectly, and people are being urged to use services responsibly.
This includes keeping 999 and A&E clear for genuine life-threatening emergencies, and using NHS 111 online or by phone for other urgent care needs.
Trusts are also asking relatives and carers to do everything they can to work with staff to get their loved ones home from hospital as soon as they are fit for discharge.
The local NHS website for BNSSG has detailed information on local services including community pharmacies, which can help with a wide range of minor health issues and advise if another NHS service is needed.
Information will also be tweeted throughout the coming days via the ICB’s twitter account – if you could please help amplify and share these updates. We have also supplied this information on our website too, if you would like to direct people to it – the link is here.
For further information about the strikes including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please see the NHS England website.
Other useful links and information:
Group A Strep infectionsWith a rise in the number of young children with infections caused by the bacterium Group A streptococcus, we have a dedicated advice page on our website. We have also retweeted this post from NHS England.
Cold weather alert
With the cold weather look set to continue over the coming weeks we have a page on our website providing tips to stay warm and details of welcome spaces across BNSSG. We have also posted details on our Healthier Together Twitter account.
Covid-19 and flu vaccines
We are encouraging those that are eligible to boost their immunity with Covid-19 and flu vaccines. Further information is available on the Healthier Together website and we recently posted details on Twitter.
Monkeypox
The NHS is continuing to offer first and second doses of the monkeypox vaccine to those eligible. There is a national website to check eligibility.
Prescriptions
We are encouraging everyone to think ahead and order repeat prescriptions before the festive break. Further details are on our ICB website and we have recently tweeted a reminder.
NHS Services are #HereForYou
Our ICB website has information about health services in our area and advice about how to access the right care in the quickest way.
Contact Information
BNSSG ICB Insight and Engagement Team