From 7am on 11 August until 7am on 15 August 2023, junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will be taking national strike action at a number of NHS trusts, including North Bristol NHS Trust.
The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trades Unions about terms and conditions.
Patient safety is our top priority. We have tried and tested plans in place and are committed to keeping disruption caused by the industrial action to a minimum.
During this time the NHS is asking patients to choose services appropriately and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and only using 999 or Emergency Departments if it is a life-threatening emergency
Appointments
If you have an appointment at our hospitals please attend unless you hear from us. Please don’t call to check if your appointment is going ahead. We will be in touch with patients directly if we need to rearrange an appointment.
Our emergency department (ED)
Our emergency department (ED) is under pressure, and we expect this to continue to be the case during the upcoming industrial action.
Our ED remains open 24 hours a day, but please use the following service if you don’t have a life-threatening emergency:
- If you have a minor illness or minor injury, local GP surgeries and pharmacies are open.
- If you have an urgent medical problem that isn’t an emergency and aren’t sure what to do, contact 111 first online or by phone – they will provide immediate medical advice and direct you to the best care for your needs.
Visiting patients
We continue to welcome family members and loved ones to visit patients at our hospitals. You can read our visitor policy here.