Patient safety top priority during strike action

All emergency and inpatients at Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals will be treated as usual during the proposed action planned for Thursday January 29.

Patients scheduled to be seen as an outpatient that day should come to hospital as normal unless they are contacted.

The Trust’s emergency care centres (A&E), theatres, hyperacute stroke unit, high dependency unit, intensive care units and oncology services will all be running as normal.

Wendy Booth, director of performance assurance, said: “Plans are in place ahead of the national strike next week to ensure disruption to our patients is kept to a minimum. Maintaining the safety of patients is our top priority.”

Strike action is due to take place on Thursday January 29 between 8am and 9pm. Patients should be aware of the following:

· All emergency patients will continue to be treated

· Existing inpatients will continue to be treated

· Some elective operations may be cancelled - patients will be notified

· Patients undergoing treatment for cancer will continue to receive treatment.

Wendy Booth added: “At this stage we are unsure exactly what effect the strike action may have, but are planning to ensure that patients needing treatment during the period will be seen and treated appropriately, and that patients already staying with us continue to receive high quality care and treatment.

“Patients who do not hear from us and have appointments for that day should attend as usual.”

Any patient who has any concerns on the day itself should contact our patient advice and liaison service on either (01472) 875403 for Grimsby or (01724) 290132 for Scunthorpe and Goole.