Increased pressure on health and care services across Nottinghamshire as junior doctor strikes begin

Hospitals and other health and care services across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are facing increased pressure due to the junior doctor strikes which are now underway. 

The industrial action is taking place over a 96-hour period between 7am today (11 April) and 7am on Saturday 15 April, with the action impacting the county's hospitals, mental health services, GP practices and other NHS services. The industrial action is being led by the British Medical Association (BMA).

Health and care organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are working together to mitigate the impact of this industrial action being taken and are prioritising hospital discharges as part of this. 

Philip Bolton, Chief Nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, said: "We are doing all we can to keep essential urgent and emergency services running so that patients can continue to access the vital medical attention they need.

"We'd like to thank the public for their support during the junior doctors' industrial action so far. The actions we have put in place to ensure we can continue to care for emergency and urgent patients have been effective and we'd like to thank everyone who has helped.

"As part of this work we have been working hard to discharge patients who are ready to leave hospital. If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do so as early as possible. This will help our teams and free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.

"I want to ask the public to please help during this challenging time by only calling 999 or attending A&E in a genuine emergency. There are other services available, including our Urgent Treatment Centres and NHS111, GPs and pharmacies, so please choose the right service for your needs."

The public are being reminded that while the NHS is there to see the public safely throughout this industrial action, there are significantly fewer doctors to call upon – which means it could take longer for patients with less urgent concerns to be seen. That's why the local NHS needs help to ensure that hardworking teams can continue to focus on those patients who need their care most.