Patients urged to choose healthcare services wisely ahead of strike action

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is appealing to people to continue to make informed decisions about their healthcare needs ahead of further planned industrial action this week.

The junior doctors’ strike will run for six days from 7am on Wednesday 3 January until 7am Tuesday 9 January.

The Trust, which runs Pinderfields Hospital, Dewsbury District Hospital and Pontefract Hospital, is once again urging the local community to consider the service that is right for them, ensuring timely and appropriate treatment for their medical conditions.

Dr Sarah Robertshaw, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“The junior doctors’ strike action this week will be the longest in NHS history and comes at a time when our hospitals, particularly in our Emergency Departments, are already dealing with very high levels of demand.

“Our teams across the trust remain committed to helping those who require emergency medical care due to serious illness or injury, or because their life is at risk. This means that people who do not need emergency care will experience long waits to be seen and some may be redirected to more appropriate services if their condition is not serious.

“Medical conditions that are not an emergency can be treated by other healthcare providers such as your GPs or local pharmacies.

“We advise where possible, that people call the NHS 111 service before coming to our Emergency Departments. NHS 111 call handlers are trained to help you and make sure you get the right urgent treatment in the right place.

“Unfortunately, some outpatient appointments and elective operations have been postponed to ensure we can provide urgent and emergency treatment to those who need it most.  If you have an appointment or procedure due to take place at our Trust, please attend unless you are contacted to rearrange."