Publish date: 19 July 2023
Hospital consultants will walk out across all NHS hospitals in Greater Manchester for 48 hours from 7am on Thursday 20 July to 7am on Saturday 22 July.
It’s the first time that senior doctors have taken industrial action since NHS industrial action began in December 2022.
During this week’s strike and next month’s expected walkouts on 24 and 25 August, announced earlier this week, consultants will provide ‘Christmas Day cover’; which includes protecting emergency treatment, intensive care, new-born care, maternity, trauma – and some limited planned care.
Services are set to be severely impacted by these strikes, and the public are being advised that major disruption is highly likely.
Hospitals will continue to do everything it can to go ahead with planned procedures and appointments – especially for patients in greatest clinical need – and will contact you if an appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
Where else to get help from? Get to know where to go:
NHS 111
NHS Greater Manchester is urging members of the public to use NHS 111 Online for all non-emergency healthcare needs, in the first instance, unless the issue concerns a child under 5, when they should call 111. Deaf people or people with hearing loss can dial 18001 111 on a textphone or use the Relay UK app (which can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store).
NHS 111 Online can help if:
- You need help but don’t know who to call
- How to find general health information and advice
- You are ill and need to be told what to do next
- How to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
Pharmacy
Lots of illnesses can also be managed safely at home, or with a trip to a local pharmacist. There are pharmacies open late in to the night and very early in the morning. Find your nearest one here: Find a pharmacy - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
Urgent dental care
The Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Care Service is available from 8am to 10pm every day including weekends for severe dental pain and infection. People can call 0333 332 3800 to be assessed by a healthcare professional, who can provide self-care advice or book a face-to-face appointment, if needed.
Urgent eye care
Free urgent eyecare is available across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. If you have a sudden and urgent problem with your eyes, you can contact a local practice to get an appointment: NHS Greater Manchester Community Urgent Eye Care Service (CUES) - Primary Eyecare Services.
Mental health
For free urgent mental health support, people can contact one of these 24/7 helplines – they’re available to anyone of any age.
- Bolton, Manchester, Salford, Trafford, and Wigan 0800 953 0285 (freephone).
- Bury, Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, and Tameside & Glossop 0800 014 9995 (freephone).
If there’s an immediate risk of danger to life, you should ring 999.
Mr Dilraj Sandher, Executive Medical Director for Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS FT on behalf of NHS acute medical directors in Greater Manchester, said: “We have been working hard to ensure we can deliver safe care during this next period of industrial action. This strike is different as no other staff group can provide cover for consultants, and many staff are dependent on consultant supervision for their work; so, we are expecting services to be considerably impacted.
“This could include longer waits, or treatment and appointments being rescheduled or cancelled; though please attend all appointments, unless you have been contacted.
“Whilst respecting the right of all colleagues to strike, the recent junior doctors’ and now hospital consultants’ industrial action one after the other will create significant challenges; and it is vital people are aware of the pressure the health service will be under and know the best way to access care during that time.
“Patients should not put off seeking urgent or emergency care, with key services continuing to operate. However, we are asking people to use other NHS services available to ensure those with the most urgent and serious needs can be seen.”
More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.