Public thanked for ongoing support and urged to “use the right service at the right time” beyond industrial action
The NHS across Sussex and Surrey is thanking the public for their continued support during the recent period of resident doctor industrial action and is urging people to keep using services in the right way as pressure on services remains high.
Industrial action by resident doctors took place until 7am on Monday 13 April, and all health services continue to experience high levels of demand. Seasonal illnesses, including norovirus, are also contributing to increased pressure across urgent and emergency care.
The NHS had plans in place to limit disruption to services as much as possible and is asking the public to continue playing their part.
Anyone who needs urgent medical support but does not have a life‑threatening illness or injury is being urged to contact NHS 111 first, either online or by phone.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day and can provide advice and support, including directing people to the most appropriate service for their needs, such as pharmacies, GP services or urgent treatment centres.
Through Pharmacy First, community pharmacies can also offer advice and treatment for a range of common conditions without needing to see a GP, making it a quick and convenient option for many people.
For urgent care that is not an emergency, people are also encouraged to consider alternatives to A&E, including urgent treatment centres, minor injury units and walk‑in services, where they can be seen by a healthcare professional.
A&E departments should be kept for life‑threatening emergencies, where immediate care is needed.
Patients are also reminded to continue to attend planned appointments unless they are contacted directly and told otherwise. People are encouraged to order repeat prescriptions in good time and to support loved ones to leave hospital promptly when they are ready, helping to free up beds for those who need care.
A spokesperson for NHS Surrey and Sussex said:
We want to thank everyone who supported NHS services during this period by making the right choice for their health needs.
Health and care organisations worked closely together to maintain patient safety, and emergency and critical care continued to be available for those who needed it most.
We are asking the public to continue using the right service at the right time, including using NHS 111 and Pharmacy First for non‑emergency health concerns, so that care is available for those who need it most.