How the junior doctors' strike will affect Bradford district from April 11-15

News - 5 April 2023

People in Bradford district are being asked to check their medication supplies and to visit NHS 111 online first (www.111.nhs.uk) for health advice over what is expected to be a busy period for NHS services during the Easter bank holiday (April 7-10) and until the end of junior doctor strike action (April 11-15).

Junior doctors' strike, April 11-15 2023 - use NHS 111 or dial 999 in an emergency

Junior doctors are planning to take industrial action for four days from Tuesday 11 April.

The action is likely to cause disruption to NHS services across West Yorkshire – including at Bradford Royal Infirmary and Airedale Hospital – particularly as it immediately follows the Easter bank holiday, when services will already be under pressure.

Local NHS leaders are urging people to only attend A&E departments across the district with life-threatening emergencies as hospitals will be under significant pressure due to the junior doctors’ four-day industrial action next week.

If people attend A&E with non-urgent or emergency conditions they will be waiting significantly longer than usual.

Instead, they should visit www.111.nhs.uk or call 111, or contact their local GP or pharmacist.

Appeal for help from the public

An urgent call for the public’s help has been made by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership – made up of local NHS organisations, local councils, independent care organisations and the voluntary and community sector – that serves a population of around 650,000 people.

Helen Farmer, Director for Access to Care at Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “NHS teams across Bradford District and Craven continue to work hard to minimise disruption from the industrial action, but we are expecting a significant impact on local health services.

“We are asking the public to use NHS 111 Online as the first port of call for health needs and continue to only call 999 if it’s life-threatening.

“People should continue to attend any scheduled hospital appointments unless the NHS has contacted them to rearrange. Most GP services will be also running as normal on strike days. People should continue to attend GP appointments, unless contacted and told otherwise.”

Regardless of any strike action, anyone who needs emergency care should forward in the normal way – calling 999 or going to your nearest A&E department – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

Health advice and information is available from NHS 111, which can be accessed by phone or online at www.111.nhs.uk. It can tell you where and how to get help for your symptoms and arrange a telephone call with a healthcare professional if appropriate. You can also use the NHS website to find an open pharmacy near you.

Emotional support is also available over this period through Guide-Line between 8am and 12am on 08001 884 884 or the Healthy Minds website to get help. For 24/7 urgent mental health crisis support, people should contact First Response on 08009521181.

Effect on local hospitals

Leanne Cooper, Chief Operating Officer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Saj Azeb, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Like other hospitals throughout the country we are facing industrial action by junior doctors after the Easter bank holiday from Tuesday, 11 April for 96 hours.

“Patient safety is our priority and our clinical and operational teams are developing plans to ensure high quality, safe care can be maintained.

“All urgent and emergency care treatments are still going ahead. However, there will be a need to rearrange some operations and outpatient appointments, and anyone whose appointment or operation has been affected will be contacted. We know this is frustrating and are extremely sorry for the inconvenience.  We will do our best to reschedule them as soon as possible.

“If you haven’t been told that your operation or appointment has been postponed, please attend your appointment as planned.

“During this period of industrial action, members of the public should continue to seek medical care in the usual way but we would urge them to only attend A&E departments across the district with life or limb-threatening emergencies."

More information from Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

More information from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

 

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As the Chair of the board of trustees, I work with the other trustees and staff to help set the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District. We meet regularly to look at finance reports, agree the budget, get updates on the work of the staff team and make any decisions that are important to ensure the charity is as strong and effective as possible. We also work closely with the senior staff team to make sure they have the support they need. I previously managed Healthwatch Bradford and District, and I’m passionate about ensuring our local community has a strong voice in the local NHS. I know from personal experience, as both a patient and a carer, that the NHS can be confusing and it can be hard to have your voice heard. We are a diverse and brilliant community, and it’s vital that every part of it has the chance to speak up and help shape our care.

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Emma - member of the Board of Trustees

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I’ve always been driven by a deep belief that people deserve to be heard when it comes to their health, wellbeing, and social care. That belief has shaped my entire career and I’ve spent my life working across health and social care. I have spent time in emergency departments, on hospital wards, within social care services, and alongside community groups where I’ve witnessed extraordinary dedication across our system, but I’ve also seen where things fall short. Those experiences have strengthened my conviction that listening to people’s real stories is the key to creating better, fairer, and more responsive services.

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