Advice for patients during industrial action by senior doctors (consultants)

The British Medical Association (BMA) is taking industrial action involving consultants at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust this week.

Consultants, who are the most senior clinicians, will go on strike for 48 hours from 7am on Thursday 24th August to 7am on Saturday 26th August.

On these days the BMA has advised that consultants will provide Christmas Day cover, meaning they will continue to provide all urgent and emergency services.

Jo Lydon, Chief Operating Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “During this period we are asking people to only attend A&E or call 999 in an emergency.

“Our consultants do a vital job, so temporarily losing this part of our workforce will have an impact on some of our services.

“We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum and we have measures in place to ensure the safety and welfare of our patients and our staff.

“If you have an appointment at one of our hospitals, please attend unless you hear from us. We will be in touch with you directly if we need to rearrange your appointment.”

Regardless of any industrial action taking place, it is important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases.

Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support is available through NHS 111 online, your nearest pharmacy or at urgent treatment centres.

For support and advice on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, please click on the relevant links.