Wakefield NHS Trust shares warning to patients as 16th doctors' strike begins next week
Patients across the district are being warned about the upcoming resident doctors’ strike.
The strike will begin at 7am on Monday, June 15 and will take place until 6.59am on Friday, June 19.
It will be the 16th strike in the long-running dispute over pay.
In response, the Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust, which runs Pinderfields Hospital, Dewsbury District Hospital and Pontefract Hospital, is appealing to the community to “make informed decisions about their healthcare needs” whilst the industrial action takes place.
Mark Freeman, deputy chief medical officer at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “Our teams throughout the Trust remain dedicated to supporting individuals who need urgent medical attention due to severe illness or injury, or because their life is in danger.
"Health issues that are not emergencies can be managed by other healthcare professionals such as your GP or local pharmacy. These services can offer advice and treatment without the need to wait in the Emergency Department.
"We are working hard to continue all our scheduled activities; however, a small number of outpatient appointments or planned operations may need to be rescheduled to make sure we can deliver urgent and emergency care to those who need it most.”
Patients across the district are also being encouraged to contact the NHS 111 service before attending Emergency Departments.
For life-threatening or serious emergencies, continue to call 999 or go to A&E but be prepared for long waits if your condition is not critical.
Those with an appointment or procedure arranged at one of the Trust’s sites should attend unless they are contacted to rearrange.