From 7am on Wednesday 3 January until 7am on Tuesday 9 January 2024, junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will be taking national strike action.
This strike action will affect NHS trusts across the country, 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.
If you think you need medical help right now but aren’t sure what to do, please use NHS 111 online first. NHS 111 will direct you to the right place for your medical needs.
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) 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.
If you attend our ED with a non-emergency condition you may experience a long wait, and if there are other services appropriate for your needs you may be redirected. You can find out when to go to an ED (also known as A&E) on the NHS England website.
Visiting patients
We continue to welcome family members and loved ones to visit patients at our hospitals. You can read our visitor policy here.