BRADFORD Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) said hospitals will be prioritising emergency care during strike action today and Tuesday, December 20.

Hundreds of nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are holding strike action for the first time in the NHS’ 106-year history.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is calling for a 19.2 per cent pay rise – but the Government says the request is unaffordable.

BTHFT said the strikes will have an impact on some of its service areas, but, wherever possible, outpatient appointments have been switched to telephone or video appointments.

Sajid Azeb, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at BTHFT, said: “If patients have not been contacted, they should attend their appointments as normal. We have been contacting patients whose appointments are impacted due to strike action. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority.

“We understand this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“During strike action, urgent and emergency treatment will be our priority.

“Regardless of any action taking place, it is important patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

“We have been working tirelessly to minimise the disruption to our services and our aim is to seek support to deliver as much urgent outpatient, diagnostics and treatments, including cancer care, as possible.

"Through engagement, which is continuing, with the RCN we have agreed derogations: these are exemptions, either of an individual or a whole service, from taking part in strike actions.

“We value our colleagues and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to the national industrial action."

On days where there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency. This includes when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. 

Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS 111 online or the 111 line.

GP appointments and mental wellbeing services and support will run as normal, so people should come forward if required to use these.

What has the Government said?

Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay said: “Our nurses are incredibly dedicated to their job and it is deeply regrettable some union members are going ahead with strike action. 

“My number one priority is to keep patients safe – I’ve been working across government and with medics outside the public sector to ensure safe staffing levels - but I do remain concerned about the risk that strikes pose to patients.

"Nevertheless, the NHS is open and patients should continue to seek urgent medical care - and attend appointments, unless they’ve been contacted by the NHS. 

“These are challenging times but we have accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full to give nurses a pay rise of at least £1,400 – on top of a 3 per cent pay rise last year when wider public sector pay was frozen.

"Further pay increases would mean taking money away from frontline services at a time when we are tackling record waiting lists as a result of the pandemic.”

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