Message to all medical staff
Industrial Action taking place from 13 to 16 March 2023
As you will all be aware, the British Medical Association (BMA), Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) and British Dental Association (BDA) have announced strike action. This means that Junior Doctors’ and Dental Core Trainees and Specialty Registrars will be taking industrial action next week from 7am on Monday 13 March through until 7am on Thursday 16 March.
As we plan for and go through this period I wanted to write to highlight three key messages. These are always important, but especially over the next few days of industrial action.
Safety First
Our aim is to maintain a safe health system for our patients. During this time there will be an impact on both routine and emergency care. We expect a reduction in our planned (elective) services to allow remaining staff to focus on providing emergency and inpatient care.
As a system, we have been working hard to plan for this industrial action. We will be asking our local people and communities to come forward for appointments as planned unless they have been contacted in advance to say otherwise. We will be requesting that they only use our emergency services if they have a genuine medical emergency. If they are unsure where to go for other urgent healthcare support, we would recommend they visit NHS 111 online first.
Look after yourself and your colleagues
Amazing care happens right across our health system thousands of times a day. At the heart of this are people caring for people. We can only maintain a safe health system if we care for the people who work in it.
For those working during this strike period, I want to say thank you for your flexibility as I know you may be asked to work differently by your organisation to help keep our patients safe. I would also like to thank those who will be supporting colleagues working in new areas during this time, both medical and non-medical staff. By supporting each other we can help keep patients safe and keep our colleagues well.
I am also very aware that whether you decide to strike or are working during this time, it is important to take good care of your own personal wellbeing.
All of our colleagues who work in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICS area can access our Staff Support Hub to receive free, confidential help and advice on a range of issues, as well as the wellbeing support being offered directly by your own organisation.
You can also find out more about how industrial action might impact on training for Doctors in Postgraduate Training programme via the Health Education England website.
Thank you: you are appreciated
I understand that the decision on whether to participate in strike action is a difficult and very personal choice. Whether you are taking action or not please know that your skill and ongoing commitment to providing safe, patient-centred, compassionate and excellent healthcare to all of our patients across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System is very much appreciated.
Thank you,
Fiona
Dr Fiona Head
MA FRCP MRCGP FFPH
Chief Medical Officer, NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Part of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS)