Nurses Strike: Which Sussex Trusts Are On Strike And How Will Patients Be Affected?

The Royal College of Nursing is going ahead with planned strikes today (Jan 18) and tomorrow, across the country.

For the first time, nurses in Sussex will be involved, with the following trusts taking part:

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

In a statement on the Sussex NHS website, patients have been assured that regardless of any strike action taking place, those who need urgent medical care will be prioritised, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases.

Emergency care will be open, with walk-in emergency and urgent services open to patients including Emergency Departments, A&E, Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injuries Units.

Some planned appointments will be affected as trusts ensure that available staff are focused on those who need care and support most. NHS teams are contacting patients directly if their appointment does need to be rescheduled and everyone will be offered an alternative date. If people have not been contacted, they are being encouraged to attend appointments as planned.

Services in the community which are helping the NHS to manage the current high demand on health and care will also continue over the two days, such as urgent community response teams and their virtual ward teams.

GP services, pharmacies and dental practices will be running as normal on strike days but are anticipated to be busy.

Some of the measures that have been put in place to mitigate this week's action include:

• Additional GP access to provide additional care and treatment, including in the evenings this week;
• Focused efforts to ensure community response services can continue to people who can be seen at home where appropriate, instead of going into hospital;
• Continued focus on discharge from hospital to ensure all hospital beds are being used in the best possible way;
• Focus on planned care capacity to ensure that any appointments that need to be postponed can be rearranged as quickly as possible.

The NHS has stressed how important it is for the public play their part and ‘Help Us Help You’ to ensure everyone gets the care and support they need. Local people are asked to take the following actions:

• Think very carefully about choosing the most appropriate NHS service for your needs and only use 999 and A&E departments for serious or life-threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, severe bleeding or breathing difficulties.
• If you do need support and care, it may take longer than you might expect to be seen and treated, so please be patient and continue to use the most appropriate service for your needs.
• Please collect family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged, and support the discharge process to available community beds, to allow acute hospital beds to be freed up for those who need them most.
• Stay away from our hospitals if you have symptoms of flu or Covid or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, unless it is an emergency.
• Keep yourself protected and boost your immunity with COVID-19 and flu vaccinations if you are eligible.

NHS Sussex Chief Medical Officer, Dr Dinesh Sinha, said:

“Patient safety is our absolute priority and we have been working across health and care to ensure that any disruption to patient care is kept to a minimum.

“Regardless of strike action, people should continue to come forward if they need NHS help and support. Services are available to help you and make sure you get the best care.

“Some patients will be contacted directly to have appointments rescheduled, but everyone will get a new date as soon as possible. If you do have an appointment and the NHS has not been in touch, please continue to attend as originally planned, so as not to delay your care.

“We ask for the public’s support and patience during these two days of industrial action so that those who most need help and treatment can get the care they need.”

Princess Royal, Haywards Heath

Advice for patients:

What if I have a hospital appointment or patient transport planned 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 hospital trust is affected by strikes.

When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?

The NHS will contact you if your appointment or patient transport 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.

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.

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 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.

Will GP services be affected on strike days?

GP services will be running as normal on strike days and are anticipated to be busy. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments including if this is with a practice nurse, unless you have been told otherwise.

How long will services be impacted?

The Royal College of Nursing strikes are mostly 12 hours from 8am to 8pm. Patients should be aware that it may take slightly longer for services to return to normal and the days after industrial action are expected to be busier than usual.