At a glance
* Consultant industrial action is taking place from 7am on Wednesday 25 November to 7am on Friday 27 November 2026.
* Please attend appointments as planned unless we contact you directly.
* Emergency care will continue to be available.
* For urgent medical advice, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
* If your appointment needs to be changed, we will contact you.
Consultant doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will be taking part in national industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 25 November until 7am on Friday 27 November 2026.
We know patients may be concerned about how this could affect their care. We are working hard to minimise disruption and keep services running safely during this period.
Will my appointment still go ahead?
Please attend as planned unless we contact you directly.
While some appointments, treatments and planned operations may need to be postponed, many services will continue to run as normal.
If your appointment is affected and needs to be rescheduled, we will contact you directly to arrange an alternative date as soon as possible. There is no need to contact the Trust to check whether your appointment is going ahead.
If you have not heard from us, please attend as planned.
What should you do if I need medical help?
Emergency care
Our Emergency Department will remain open throughout the industrial action.
Call 999 or attend the Emergency Department if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
For advice on when to attend A&E, visit the NHS website.
Urgent medical help
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 if you need medical advice or urgent care that is not life threatening.
NHS 111 can:
- Assess your symptoms
- Provide medical advice
- Direct you to the most appropriate service
- Arrange urgent care appointments where needed
Non-urgent health concerns
For routine healthcare needs, contact:
- Your GP practice
- A local pharmacy
- NHS 111 online or call 111
Choosing the right NHS service helps ensure emergency departments remain available for those who need them most.
If you are away from home and need routine treatment, contact your own GP surgery. If you need medication, they can send a prescription electronically to a pharmacy of your choice.
Help prepare for the strike period
To avoid unnecessary disruption, we recommend that you:
- Order repeat prescriptions in good time and ensure you have enough medication.
- Use the NHS App, your GP practice website or contact your GP surgery to request prescriptions.
- Keep a well-stocked first aid kit at home.
Find out what should be included in a first aid kit on the NHS website.
Keeping patients safe during industrial action
Patient safety remains our highest priority.
We have well-established plans in place to maintain essential services and protect urgent and emergency care throughout the industrial action.
We would like to thank patients, visitors and our local communities for their understanding and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most services will continue to operate. However, some non-urgent appointments, procedures and planned operations may need to be rescheduled.
Where changes are necessary, affected patients will be contacted directly and offered an alternative appointment as quickly as possible.
If you need urgent medical help, use NHS 111 online or call 111 if you cannot access the internet.
If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, call 999 or attend the Emergency Department immediately.
For further guidance, visit the NHS website for information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.
You should call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or there is a risk to life.
Ambulances will continue to respond to emergencies where clinically appropriate.
Please attend as planned unless we contact you directly to rearrange your appointment.
If your appointment needs to be rescheduled, we will contact you directly by phone, text message or letter. Patients whose appointments are postponed because of industrial action will be prioritised for rebooking.
If you have not heard from us, your appointment should go ahead as scheduled.
No. Patients whose appointments are postponed because of industrial action will be prioritised for rebooking.
No. Unless you have been contacted by the Trust, please attend your appointment as planned.
Yes. We have comprehensive plans in place to maintain safe staffing levels and protect essential services, including:
- Emergency care
- Critical care
- Maternity services
- Neonatal services
- Trauma services
- Urgent cancer treatment
Patient safety remains our highest priority.
Emergency care will continue to be available throughout the industrial action.
It is important that anyone experiencing a medical emergency continues to seek care in the usual way by calling 999 or attending the Emergency Department.
The best thing you can do is:
- Attend appointments as planned unless contacted otherwise.
- Order repeat prescriptions in good time.
- Use NHS 111, your GP practice or local pharmacy for non-emergency health concerns.
Hospital inpatients will continue to receive care. Any changes affecting individual wards or services will be communicated directly by the teams caring for them.
GP practices are expected to remain open during the industrial action. Please continue to attend GP and dental appointments as normal unless you are contacted and advised otherwise.
Thank you for your support
We understand that industrial action may cause uncertainty and concern for some patients. Our teams are working hard to minimise disruption and ensure people continue to receive safe care.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this period.