Royal College of Nursing (RCN) strikes from 30 April to 1 May

Strike action is being taken by members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) from 8pm on Sunday 30 April through until 11.59pm on Monday 1 May. This is as part of the RCN’s dispute with the Government concerning pay and working conditions.

The latest strike by the RCN includes the first May Bank Holiday, during which we would typically expect our services to be busier than usual.

This period of industrial action also coincides with industrial action by teachers organised by the National Education Union on Tuesday 2 May. This impacts our staffing, with colleagues who have school age children needing to find alternative childcare arrangements.

We are planning for our services to be disrupted across all three days, and in the week that follows.

Across the period leading up to, during and following the strike action, we ask the public to use their local health service wisely.

It’s important to consider where the best place is to be treated, with NHS 111, pharmacies, and GPs generally more appropriate places for most conditions.

In the first instance, please contact 111 online for advice and guidance.

In an emergency, always contact 999.

Everyone who attends our Urgent Treatment Centre or Emergency Department will be seen by a clinician. However, it may take longer to be seen than usual and so you may be seen more quickly if you contact 111 online first.

As always, our priority is to maintain safe levels of patient care. To do this we will protect certain services, including emergency treatment.

Unfortunately, it will be necessary to cancel some planned appointments where we cannot provide safe levels of care.

Everyone who is cancelled will be contacted directly, and we will try to re-book patients at the earliest available opportunity.

It is important that if you have an appointment with us, that you attend as normal. If we must cancel your appointment, we will do so directly. Should you not hear from us, your appointment is still planned to go ahead.

Please be patient if you are attending either our urgent and emergency services or have a booked appointment. Our staff will be working extremely hard to see you as quickly as they possibly can.

The dispute over pay and working conditions is a matter for Government and trade unions, and we hope to see a resolution as soon as possible.