WARRINGTON and Halton Hospitals will be ‘severely’ hit by junior doctor strikes this month.

The latest round of industrial action called by the British Medical Association (BMA) will take place from 7am on Thursday, June 27, to 7am on Tuesday, July 2.

Ahead of the walk-outs, residents in both boroughs are being asked to attend accident and emergency (A&E) only when facing a serious or life threatening emergency.

Dr Paul Fitzsimmons, executive medical director at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are appealing to the public to continue to make good choices when they need urgent or emergency medical advice or assistance as this will help us prioritise resources for those most in need.

“Please remember that A&E departments and 999 calls should be used for serious or life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that are not stopping, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, allergic reactions, and serious head injuries. Please do not hesitate to come forward to access care if you need it.

“If it’s urgent but not an emergency then there are other services that can help, including local urgent treatment centres, pharmacies or visiting NHS 111 online. Visiting or calling NHS 111 can also help if you aren’t sure which service is the right one for your needs.”

NHS 111 can ensure that patients are signposted to the right service. The online service works the same as over the phone and is already popular with people who want quick advice about the best options for getting the care they need. These can include a call back from a trained clinician or nurse, an appointment in A&E or other advice.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals has tried and tested plans in place for managing periods of disruption, including industrial action, to ensure the safety of patients remaining in hospital at these times.

The trust will prioritise resources to protect urgent and emergency care services, critical care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma services and aims to mitigate the impact on patients who have waited longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

Dr Fitzsimmons added: “Junior doctors are an important part of the team and work in almost every part of a busy hospital, including A&E. We expect that there will be an impact on some of our patients and that it will be necessary to postpone some appointments and procedures.

“We will do all we can to reschedule any missed appointments as soon as possible. Patients who are not contacted directly by the Trust should continue to attend for appointments as planned.”

For more information on Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals services during the planned industrial action, check www.whh.nhs.uk 

For information on the position across health services in Cheshire and Merseyside visit: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/posts/nhs-industrial-action/