Cumbrians have been urged to use NHS services appropriately ahead of the upcoming strikes.
Royal College of Nursing and North West Ambulance Service union members at a number of NHS organisations across South Cumbria are planning to join strike action on the same day next week.
Ambulance and nursing staff will strike on Monday 6 February, while nursing strikes will continue on Tuesday 7 February and ambulance service staff who are members of Unison will take part in further industrial action on Friday 10 February.
Dr David Levy, medical director at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which organises health services for the region, said there is likely to be significant service disruption and has urged people to make NHS 111 online their first port of call for non-emergency health needs.
Dr Levy said: “The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption but there is likely to be a disruption to services across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
“We ask people to use services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to those who need it most. This includes using NHS 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
“Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life. There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during industrial action, with the NHS prioritising those with life-threatening needs.
“If your conditions are not life-threatening you are unlikely to get an ambulance on strike days. Not all hospitals are impacted, but please check your local services for information about any disruption.”
Further industrial action by North West Ambulance Service staff is planned on Thursday 16 February, Monday 20 February and Wednesday 22 February.
The NHS is set to continue doing everything it can to go ahead with planned procedures – especially for those in greatest clinical need – and patients will be contacted if an appointment needs to be rescheduled.
Local NHS services will also keep their websites and social media accounts up to date with information about local service disruption – so please check before you travel.
Dr Levy added: “Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
