Public Urged To Make The Right Choice Of NHS Service During Industrial Action This Week

People in Sussex are being urged to continue to use health services appropriately as ambulance staff are due to take industrial action tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ambulance staff across the county are taking strike action, including non-emergency patient transport.

There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action and it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy, but the NHS will be prioritising those with life-threatening needs.

The NHS is asking patients to seek emergency care if they need to during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, patients who need urgent medical care will be prioritised, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

On days where there is strike action, you 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).

Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.

Patients whose conditions are not life-threatening are likely to have very long waits for an ambulance on strike days.

NHS 111 call centres will also have fewer staff, with longer call response times expected across the system.

SCAS have confirmed that their patient transport service in Sussex will continue to be honoured, although it is expected there will also be less transport available.

It is expected the NHS will be very busy and so people are being asked to use services responsibly.

If you need NHS treatment and there is an immediate threat to life you should continue to call 999.

If you need urgent care but it isn’t life threatening, please “think 111 first”.

You can access it online as well as by calling 111.

Your local Pharmacist is also an expert in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns. 

If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need.

All the information to help you know which service is available to you and how you access them is on the Sussex Health and Care website - Get the right care - Sussex Health and Care (ics.nhs.uk)

As is the case across the country, health and care in Sussex is currently under significant pressure due to the large numbers of people needing to use services.

Last Friday (January 6), the Sussex system stepped down a critical incident that had been in place for a week to ensure patients continued to receive safe and high quality care during the very busy New Year period.

All partners continue to work very closely to manage the current pressures and are stepping up plans for the expected industrial action across ambulance services.

NHS Sussex Chief Medical Officer, Dr Dinesh Sinha, said:

“It is 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.

“We ask for the public’s support during the day of industrial action so that those who most need NHS help and treatment can get the care they need.

"If it is a life-threatening emergency, please continue to use 999 or go to one of our Emergency Departments or A&Es.

“If you do need support and care, it may take longer than you might expect to be seen and treated, so please be patient.”