Industrial action: Information for patients about strikes in December 2023 and January 2024
Posted 14th December 2023
Junior Doctor members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are taking industrial action in hospitals across England in December 2023 and January 2024 as part of their national pay dispute with the Government. This page explains what this means for people under the care of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
The BMA have announced strike action by junior doctors on the following dates:
20th, 21st and 22nd December: A 3-day strike from 07:00 on Wednesday 20th December until 07:00 on Saturday 23rd December 2023
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th January: A 6-day strike from 07:00 on Wednesday 3rd January until 07:00 on Tuesday 9th January 2024
What this means for our patients
We have extensive plans in place to make sure we can continue providing safe, high-quality care during the strikes. We expect to deliver services including chemotherapy and other systemic anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy, diagnostics, inpatient care, many outpatient consultations and urgent cancer care. (We do not provide surgery.)
If you have an appointment on a strike day: You should attend your appointment as planned unless we contact you directly to say otherwise.
Inpatient care: There will be appropriate senior medical cover on our wards throughout so inpatients will continue to receive expert medical care during industrial action.
If you need urgent advice / care
- Our Hotline team is available 24/7 – including strike days – on 0800 169 5555 for anyone who is currently being treated at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre or who completed treatment in the last six weeks and who needs urgent care or advice (e.g. due to treatment side-effects).
- Emergency departments in our region are expected to be very busy. For general health advice and queries – including an online symptom checker – visit 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or call them on 111 if you don't have internet access:
- Make NHS 111 your first port of call for all non-emergency health needs.
- NHS 111 online offers you fast access to advice on the best options for getting care. They can also organise call backs from a trained clinician or nurse, or book you a face to face appointment in A&E or with a GP if needed.
- It’s really important that people know where to go for advice and treatment this week, as local services are very busy: contact NHS 111 in the first instance, or try a walk-in centre, GP, or pharmacy.
- Call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
