What is happening

Industrial action is taking place that will involve some colleagues at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.

The Trust is urging patients and their families across East Lancashire to be aware of the expected impact and the range of ways to access appropriate and timely care.

The British Medical Association has announced industrial action involving junior doctors:

  • 7am on Saturday, 24 February until the end of Wednesday, 28 February.

Please be assured that we are working hard to minimise disruption. However, the strike will impact services run by the Trust.

Planned procedures or outpatient appointments

If you have an appointment at any of our hospitals, please assume this is going ahead unless you have been told otherwise by ELHT.

If we need to rearrange any appointments or procedures, we will contact you directly to let you know - however this may be at late notice as every possible avenue is explored for activity to go ahead.

If you’re concerned and feel you need to speak to someone, please contact your clinical team using the contact information on your appointment letter.

If you need emergency care

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.

Resources will be prioritised to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care and trauma, as well as patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

A&E

Urgent and emergency care services will be open during the industrial action period for life or limb threatening emergencies.

For all other health needs, please contact NHS 111 online or call 111 if you don't have internet access. There are many other places that can offer support, including GP surgeries and pharmacies and NHS111 will be able to guide you to the right place.

Visitors

Visiting times at all the Trust’s hospitals are not affected and relatives and carers are welcome to attend as normal.

If you want to know more about industrial action, please click here to visit NHS England’s website.​​