Junior Doctor Strike Action from 24 to 28 February
The British Medical Association has announced there will be further Junior Doctors strikes taking place this week across the NHS, which will potentially cause some disruption to appointments. The strike will be starting at 7 am on Saturday 24 February and finishing at 7 am on Wednesday 28 February.
During these strike actions, we’re encouraging people in the Croydon community who need urgent medical care to continue to come forward - especially in emergency and life-threatening cases. Our senior doctors, nurses and support staff will be on the frontline helping to keep our patients safe and cared for, whilst respecting the rights of our staff to strike – but we know that each strike period brings its challenges.
Emergency care and acute services will be prioritised, and patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen. However, please consider using the NHS’s other services advice and treatment during this period of industrial action. These include NHS 111, your GP, pharmacies and other online resources.
Who does it affect?
We are here to care for patients during this period and there may be delays and disruption due to strikes. However, it is really important to us that anyone needing urgent and emergency care can still access our services.
Patients who have scheduled appointments on the day of the strikes will be contacted if their appointment needs to be rescheduled. Patients who haven’t been contacted should still attend their appointment as normal.
For any cancellations, we appreciate that not much notice may be given, but that’s because we’re still trying to fulfil some of the scheduled appointments, whilst prioritising the most critical and urgent ones. Patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery will be prioritised
For any non-urgent medical treatment- please contact your GPs or NHS 111.
Helping those who need urgent treatment
Regardless of any strike action, it’s really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward – especially in emergency and life-threatening cases, when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
For medical help and advice
If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online where trained advisors can help find the right services and even book an appointment if needed.
Patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
For 24/7 access to a range of NHS services all in one place, download the NHSApp .
More resources:
Help us care for you
If you feel unwell, it's important that you continue to come forward for NHS care. There are plenty of local services available to help you if you need medical advice, but it is not an emergency.
For more information on all of the care available in Croydon, including 24/7 mental health support, please see our 'know where to go' leaflet or scan this code. We've also included some helpful details below. Thank you.
Pharmacy
Your local pharmacy is a first port-of-call for minor health concerns. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and can help with lots of illnesses, from skin rashes to earaches and flu. Many pharmacies open late and offer private consultations, no appointment needed.
Your GP
GP practices will continue to be open during the junior doctor’s strike. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.
Ahead of the industrial action, the advice for anyone travelling to other areas is to:
- Make sure you have ordered and collected any repeat medicines, especially if you are travelling
- Remember that your first port of call for GP care is your home practice, which will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations as well as arranging for prescriptions to be sent to any pharmacy you choose.
GP hubs (bookable appointments 8am-8pm, every day)
There are three ‘GP Hubs’ in Croydon which treat both minor injuries and minor illnesses requiring same day care – for both children and adults. They are located in Central Croydon, Purley and Parkway (New Addington).
To book an appointment, people should call NHS 111 first to discuss their symptoms. You will be offered a telephone consultation with a GP or practice nurse who can also book you to attend for a face to face appointment where appropriate.
NHS 111
Call NHS 111 free for urgent medical advice, or access the service online at 111.nhs.uk. If NHS 111 advise that you attend the Emergency Department, ask them if they can book you an appointment.
Mental health support (24/7)
If you live in Croydon and you need mental health support in a crisis you can call our 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 731 2864 (option 1).
The Mental Health Crisis Line offers emotional support and advice to people who are affected by urgent mental health issues, at any time of the day or night. It is open to children and adults of all ages, and to people who haven’t previously accessed mental health services.
If you are in a mental health crisis or need urgent support you can also search ‘Mind’, ‘Samaritans’ or ‘Good thinking urgent support’
Contact your current healthcare team
If you are already receiving care or treatment from a particular healthcare team, contact them first to see if they can help.
Healthier Together children’s health website
Created by experts, Healthier Together is a new website in south west London which provides pregnant people, parents and carers with trusted information on common childhood illnesses. Search ‘South West London healthier together’
Wellness space at the Whitgift Centre
The Croydon Health and Wellbeing space has been created to offer free mental health support and social care help for people living in Croydon.
Whether it’s financial worries, loneliness, questions about housing or bills, or just a simple need to talk with someone – there is team there to help, including specialist mental health staff.
You can find the service on the 1st floor of the Whitgift Centre, next to Holland and Barrett. Simply walk in to make an appointment or book by calling 020 8680 3635
Simply Connect Croydon
If you need to access community support, visit croydon.simplyconnect.uk
You find local community services, activities and support including a map of warm spaces and community hubs close to home.
Simply Connect Croydon is dedicated to helping Croydon residents navigate local services, managed and delivered by Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) and Volunteer Centre Croydon.
To help us care for patients needing urgent and emergency treatment, we are urging Croydon residents to only use A&E in serious emergencies. To avoid long waits, we are encouraging people to visit NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) unless it is a life-threatening emergency when they should still call 999.
We need your help to keep people in our community safe and informed. We would be grateful if you could share these messages on social media and with your family, friends and community networks.
We are prioritising emergency treatment and urgent cancer patients and will notify those patients who will have to have their appointments and procedures cancelled. They will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
If the NHS has not contacted individuals directly, please encourage those in our community to attend appointments as planned.