Ambulance services industrial action – Wednesday 11 January 2023
Date posted: 9th January 2023
Ambulance service staff from GMB and Unison trade unions will take industrial action on Wednesday, 11 January 2023.
This means reduced ambulance crews but also reduced 999 and 111 call handling staff.
NHS services across Lancashire and South Cumbria are currently under a lot of pressure, with staff working incredibly hard to meet very high demand. Please help us to ensure our services are available for those who need them most. Please look at the alternative options available for accessing NHS services if your condition is not urgent.
- Advice is available from NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. The online service can provide the same advice and help as the phone service. You will be directed to the best service for your needs if you're not sure what to do and a clinician call will call you back if needed.
- You can find self-care advice on www.nhs.uk;
- Consider using your local pharmacy for expert help and advice for every-day conditions;
- Online services are available, where you can request repeat prescriptions via the NHS app or your practice patient online service;
There are a number of services available locally to help you such as your GP practice, Urgent Treatment Centres and pharmacies. You can find out more about these and which to use when at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/NHShealthwise.
Pre-bookable, routine appointments are also available at evening and weekends thanks to the new enhanced access contract. You can access these appointments by speaking to the reception team at your GP practice.
Our staff are still working incredibly hard, and we are here for you, so please continue to come forward for the help you need.
Our priority, as always, is to ensure safe and high-quality care for people in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Hospitals and our community services, including staff across ambulance services, nursing, pharmacy, primary care and general practice, along with other colleagues in local council adult social care, are doing all they can to meet people’s needs.
You can also ‘help us help you’ by ensuring you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having your autumn booster dose and your seasonal flu vaccination, if eligible.
It is essential that people 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. However, if you do have to attend hospital please do not expect to be seen straight away and be patient with staff, they will be monitoring you and if your condition worsens while waiting please let them know. Due to the potential of a long wait please be prepared and bring any medications with you as well as some money for food and drink and if you have a portable phone charger then bring that with you too.