Patients with hospital appointments scheduled for Wednesday 6^th and Thursday 7^th April are being urged to attend as normal unless they have already been told otherwise.

Junior doctors are, once again, preparing for a 48hr period of industrial action, during which they will provide emergency cover only at both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham. The action is being taken as part of a national, ongoing dispute with the Government over changes to terms and conditions.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be implementing business continuity plans between 8am on Wednesday 6 April and 8am on Friday 8 April to ensure the organisation can continue to provide safe and effective care to patients.

Mr Kevin Phillips, Chief Medical Officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“We recognise the junior doctors’ right to take industrial action, so we will be implementing business continuity plans in an attempt to minimise disruption for patients and ensure our services can continue to run safely.

“Extra support will be provided in those areas we expect to come under additional pressure, including more pharmacy support for our wards to help with prescribing issues and patient discharge arrangements.

“In a limited number of areas where it would not prove safe or possible to continue to see patients, it has been necessary to cancel and reschedule some appointments and procedures. All patients affected have now been contacted and we would like to apologise for the inconvenience.

“The vast majority of appointments and procedures scheduled for 6^th and 7^th April will still go ahead, however, so patients who are due to attend hospital on these dates can help us by turning up as planned, unless they have been told otherwise.”

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust would like to apologise for any inconvenience, and thank patients and the public for their cooperation and understanding during the forthcoming period of industrial action.

Important information for patients:

• Whilst some disruption as a result of the strike action is inevitable, the vast majority of services and clinics at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital are expected to run as normal.
• Those patients who have appointments or surgical procedures scheduled to take place on Wednesday 6 April or Thursday 7 April are asked to attend as planned, unless they have already been contacted by a member of hospital staff to cancel and reschedule.
• Patients with specific queries around their appointments are asked to contact the hospital using the details provided on their appointment letters.
• Picket lines are expected outside the hospitals, but they will not block access for patients or staff entering and leaving the sites.
• Emergency care services will continue to run as normal.
• In light of additional pressures anticipated on the day, members of the public are asked to familiarise themselves with alternative, non-hospital based sources of healthcare advice and treatment, including minor injury units, walk-in centres, GP surgeries and pharmacies. A full list of local community health services is available via hey.nhs.uk/alternatives