Accurate on Tuesday 10.1.2023
The local NHS is asking the public to think carefully about the services they use as the local health and care system faces significant pressures and remains in a system critical incident due to increased demand as well as planned strike activity this week.
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is one of a number of areas affected by industrial action this week.
The GMB trade union at East Midlands Ambulance Service received enough votes to have a mandate to strike and take action short of a strike. Strike action is planned to take place on Wednesday, 11 January from 00.01 hours to 23.59 hours.
As a result, the NHS is asking the public to think carefully about how they can help the NHS. Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support is available through NHS111 online, your nearest pharmacy or at urgent treatment centres. It is important that the public use services wisely and make their own way to a treatment centre or hospital if safe to do so.
However, regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases.
To get the latest info on the planned strikes, please visit the EMAS website.
7 ways you can help the NHS:
- Only call 999 or attend A&E departments for serious accidents and for genuine emergencies.
- If you are unsure where you should go, NHS 111 can help – search online for “NHS 111” or dial 111 from any phone. This will make sure you are seen in the right place and by the right person.
- Consider using Urgent Treatment Centres. They can treat injuries including sprains, strains, suspected fractures, bites, cuts, scalds, and other non-life-threatening conditions. Waiting times are usually much shorter than A&E. We have UTCs at:
- Nottingham – The NHS Urgent Care Centre (next to the BBC building) is open every day from 7am-7pm. You don’t need an appointment to attend. Seaton House, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 4LA Tel: 0115 883 8500
- Newark – Newark Hospital is open 9am-10pm (last patient admitted at 9.30pm). It can be found on Boundary Road, NG24 4DE
- Ilkeston Community Hospital – is open 8am – 8pm. It can be found on Heanor Road , Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8LN. You can book into this service via 111.
- Use the NHS App for access to a wide range of services and information, such as accessing medical records, booking and managing appointments, reviewing medication and ordering prescriptions as well as checking symptoms.
- Flu and Covid-19 are currently circulating in the community, so stay at home if you have symptom and get your jabs if you are eligible. More details about how to get your flu and Covid-19 jab can be found here – Flu vaccine and here – Covid Vaccine.
- Members of the public can also help ease pressures by using their local pharmacy. Pharmacies can help with allergies, constipation, headaches, earaches and many other ailments.
- Anyone who is in mental health distress should call the Mental Health Crisis Line: 0808 196 3779 – the helpline is open 24 hours a day.
