Junior Doctor strike action – February 2024

The NHS in Sussex is grateful to people for their support during the several periods of industrial action seen so far this year, and is calling on the public to give support again to ensure local communities, patients, families, and carers are provided with provide high quality NHS care.

People are being urged to continue to support the NHS during the strike days by using the right health service to meet their needs, and help to ensure emergency care is available for those in most need by taking the following actions:

• Choose the most appropriate NHS service for needs and only use 999 and A&E or Emergency Departments for serious or life-threatening emergencies.
   
• Use an alternative NHS service and to use NHS 111 first either online or by phone for anything that isn’t a life-saving emergency.
   
• Know it may take longer than expected to be seen and treated for those patients who attend emergency departments, but do not have time-critical or life-threatening conditions.
   
• Collect family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged.
   
• Stay away from hospitals if showing the symptoms of flu or COVID-19 (or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive), unless it is an emergency.

NHS staff will prioritise patient safety during the periods of industrial action, with health and care partners working together to ensure that critical services will continue to be available.

Planned appointments and clinics are likely to be affected; however, people should continue to attend their appointments unless they are contacted directly by the NHS.

Patients do not need to contact their NHS service or team in advance, the team will contact patients directly if an appointment needs to be rescheduled.

For more information

NHS Sussex

University Hospitals Sussex