The NHS in the South East is working hard to keep as many services going as possible but residents in the region are being urged to use services wisely with NHS 111 the first port of call for non-emergency healthcare needs with five days of industrial action by resident doctors set to begin on Friday.

The strike runs from 7am Friday 14 November to 7am Wednesday 19 November, with walkouts expected at trusts across the region. Local teams have been working round the clock to minimise disruption, ensuring patients continue to receive emergency care and other routine and essential appointments, scans, and procedures while ensuring patient safety.

During the last round of action in July, thanks to the tireless efforts of NHS staff including many resident doctors, more routine, planned care was kept going than before, ensuring vital appointments, scans and procedures still went ahead.

This time round, the NHS is warning strike action comes at an increasingly challenging time due to winter pressures including rising flu cases and staff absences.

Patients should use 111 online for urgent but non-life-threatening issues, while continuing to call 999 or attend A&E in emergencies. Unless contacted otherwise, patients should attend scheduled appointments as normal with primary care operating as normal throughout the strike action.

Alongside managing industrial action, trusts across the region are also working to implement the 10-point plan from NHS England to improve the working lives of resident doctors.

At Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, a newly refurbished Doctor’s Mess provides a purpose-built rest facilities, communal areas, and 24/7 access to hot food for the trust’s 280 resident doctors. The Mess allows Doctors to decompress, connect with peers and build networks. Designed with input from Resident Doctors, beyond the Trust’s award-winning health and wellbeing offer for all staff, the Trust has also ensured designated parking for those on call or working irregular shifts.

On the south coast, with more than 950 resident doctors across both Portsmouth University Hospitals Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust, huge effort has been put into making practical improvements to working conditions, training opportunities and representation.

A new Marks & Spencer Food store has opened on site at Portsmouth, alongside a 24/7 Costa Coffee outlet and ‘Cook’ vending machines stocked with high-quality frozen meals for night workers. These changes ensure that resident doctors always have access to nutritious hot food and refreshments, helping to improve wellbeing during demanding shifts.

Alongside this, the Trusts have focused on ensuring resident doctors have a clear voice in board discussions with a peer representative and senior responsible lead reporting to the board, and a dedicated resident doctors forum helping to shape improvements in wellbeing, rota management and education.

Dr Christopher Tibbs, Medical Director for NHS South East, said: 

“I know that industrial action comes at a very real cost to both NHS staff and patients, particularly as the NHS begins to manage the challenging winter period. Hospitals and General Practice across the region are working incredibly hard to minimise disruption to their patients and to ensure that care continues if at all possible so people can still have their planned scans, tests and procedures which are so important.

“I’d like to thank all those, including the many resident doctors who are choosing not to take industrial action, who will be working extra hours to maintain the service over the next five days, and we encourage patients to access NHS services as normal. In an emergency, always call 999. For non-urgent needs, use NHS 111 online, speak to your pharmacist or contact your GP. Unless notified otherwise, patients should attend their scheduled appointments.”