Advice for patients during industrial action

18 September 2023

Members of the public are asked to choose the right healthcare service for their needs during the latest rounds of industrial action.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust is preparing for industrial action from both junior doctors and consultants over the next few days.

Consultants, who are the most senior clinicians, are striking between 7am on Tuesday 19th September and Thursday 21st September.

Junior doctors, who have anywhere up to eight years' experience working as a hospital doctor, are taking industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 20th September and 7am on Saturday 23rd September.

Wednesday 20th September will see junior doctors and consultants both take industrial action on the same day.

The NHS is asking patients to choose services appropriately 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 only using 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.

If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The Trust will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.

Jo Lydon, Chief Operating Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “The NHS continues to face high demand and our staff are working hard to provide patients with the best possible care during what is already a busy period in the NHS.

“During the upcoming industrial action, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases. However, if it is non-life threatening, please think about which is the most appropriate service for your needs.

“Thank you for your ongoing patience and support.”

Further coordinated junior doctor and consultant industrial action is planned for early October across three days (2-4 October). For support and advice on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, please click on the relevant links.