St Mary’s Hospital is heading into a very busy bank holiday weekend and Easter holiday in an already fragile situation and has said it desperately needs the help of Islanders to keep urgent and emergency care services free for people with life threatening illnesses or injuries.
Junior doctors’ strike
The BMA and HCSA have announced junior doctors’ strikes running from 06:59 on Tuesday 11th April until 06:59 on Saturday 15th April.
This is four days of strikes coming immediately after a 4-day bank holiday weekend. The days leading into and immediately after bank holiday weekends are already challenging for the NHS.
Gladdish: Strikes will very likely cause increased pressure on our services
Sarah Gladdish, Deputy Medical Director said,
“These strikes come at a time when high levels of staff are on annual leave due to school Easter holiday and when the Island will be welcoming large numbers of visitors; this will very likely cause increased pressure on our services and affect how quickly we can respond to demand, causing significant delays for patients.
“During strike action we will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.
“We will only cancel appointments and procedures where it is absolutely necessary and will reschedule immediately, where possible. If you have an appointment, please attend unless you are contacted to rearrange.”
How you can support the NHS
The hospital is asking for everyone’s support with this including local GPs, Care Homes and Island residents.
Families and friends are being asked to support the NHS by collecting patients from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged and to consider offering short term support and care for their loved ones at home.
Islanders are being asked to support the NHS by:
- Collecting family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged to free up beds for those who need them
- Consider supporting your friends or family at home if you are able to – there is financial help available
- Supporting friends, family and neighbours with shopping and collecting prescriptions if needed
- Think about the most appropriate NHS service for your needs and to only call 999 in the event of a life-threatening illness or injury
- Visit NHS 111 online or call NHS 111 for heath advice, or alternatively contact your local pharmacist or GP
News shared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
