Update on NHS services ahead of the planned strike action

The NHS in Lincolnshire is expecting to face unprecedented pressure in the coming week, with industrial action by British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) colleagues planned from 7am on Monday 2 October to 7am on Thursday 5 October.

This industrial action is different to anything the NHS has faced before, with both consultants and junior doctors taking a full period of industrial action at the same time. 

What is happening between Monday 2 October to Thursday 5 October?

The British Medical Association (BMA), Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will take further strike action from 7am on Monday 2 October to 7am on Thursday 5 October.

During these dates, both junior doctors and consultants will take joint strike action, resulting in a reduced rota of staff across our services. This means we need to plan carefully how the staff that we do have available can best provide care for people across the county.

What are we doing in Lincolnshire to keep patients safe?

Access to some of our less busy services will change so that we can free-up staff to provide emergency cover where needed more urgently.

Therefore, some non-urgent appointments will also be postponed because staff will be caring for people in emergency and life-threatening situations. You will be told if your appointment is changing.

The opening hours will change temporarily at the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) in Louth. On Monday 2, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 October, the service will open from 8am to 8pm and will close overnight (8pm-8am). Normal service will resume from 8am on Thursday 5 October.

What can local people do to support the Lincolnshire NHS during this time?

We are still here if you need us, but please choose well when deciding which service you need. Visit NHS 111 online in the first instance for advice

Please attend booked NHS (including hospital and GP) appointments unless you are directly contacted to alter it.

If you live in Louth and planned to visit the UTC overnight, please visit NHS 111 online instead where you’ll be directed to suitable alternative services.

Mental health support is available during this time via the local 24/7 mental health helplines on 0800 001 4331, or 0800 234 6342 for children, young people and their families.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is important that 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. In an emergency, life or limb-threatening situation please call 999.

Andrew Morgan, Group Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“We are entering the eleventh month of industrial action across the NHS and staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care under the circumstances. But with both consultants and junior doctors strike action coinciding, we know this will be a particularly challenging few days.     

“This period of strike action will impact on a larger number of hospital appointments than previous industrial action across Lincolnshire and we are working hard with our colleagues across the Lincolnshire NHS system to prepare and protect our most urgent services. 

“People in Lincolnshire can help by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after yourself, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.

“In addition, NHS 111 online, GP practices and local pharmacies are open and able to offer advice and help. In Lincolnshire we also have the Waitless App, which can be downloaded and enables you to view live waiting time, queue numbers and travel time information for our urgent care facilities in the county.”