Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
The NHS in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is urging people to use alternative services during the current industrial action by junior doctors.
The strike, which is the third taken by junior doctors, started at 7am on Wednesday 14 June and will run until 7am on Saturday 17 June.
Junior doctors make up almost half of the medical workforce, so it is inevitable that some services have been disrupted.
Keith Girling, Nottingham University Hospitals Medical Director said: “Please only use A&E or call 999 for life threatening injury or illness. The quickest way to receive medical help is via NHS111 online, but you can also use your GP, pharmacy or urgent treatment centre. By choosing NHS services wisely and making every appointment count, you will be helping to ensure our hard-working staff can be there for the patients who need us most.
“Junior doctors play a vital role in the running of our NHS so it is inevitable that services will be disrupted. We are doing everything we can to focus on urgent and emergency care during the strike period.”
Dr Tim Noble, Executive Medical Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, added: “Regardless of any action taking place, we want to remind our communities that, if you have an appropriate need, the NHS is still here for you, and to attend any appointments you may have unless contacted otherwise.”
In the majority of cases, the first doctor anyone will see when they go into hospital will be a junior doctor. They are qualified doctors who have anywhere up to eight years’ experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice.
