What is happening?
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a further period of industrial action by resident doctor colleagues (previously known as junior doctors), which will take place from 7am on Friday 14 November until 7am on Wednesday 19 November.
NHS teams across Greater Manchester are working hard to keep services running and to prioritise patient safety.
It is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
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.
What this means for you
- Urgent and emergency care will continue as normal.
- Some planned appointments and treatments may be delayed or rescheduled. If this affects you, you will be contacted directly but if you are not contacted, we look forward to welcoming you for your appointment as planned.
- GP and dental practices will stay open, but some may be affected if they host resident doctors.
- Mental health services remain open and available – help is still here for you.
- For urgent health advice, please use NHS 111 online (for people five and over). Call 999 only in a life-threatening emergency.
- For help finding the right NHS service, visit NHS Greater Manchester’s ‘Get to Know Where to Go’ information at gmintegratedcare.org.uk/gtkwtg.
- You can help by checking on vulnerable friends and family, making sure you have necessary medicines, and helping loved ones leave hospital quickly once they have been told they are ready to go home.
Medical help and advice
If you need medical help or advice, NHS 111 Online can tell you where to get help for your symptoms and how to find general health information and advice. More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
Please contact NHS 111 if:
- You need medical help fast, but it's not a 999 emergency.
- You don't know who to call for medical help or you don't have a GP to call.
- You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service.
- You require health information or reassurance about what to do next.
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.
- Use Get to know where to go for further information on finding the right NHS service.