​Industrial action: Information for patients about strikes in October

Posted 28th September 2023

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and Society of Radiographers (SoR) are taking industrial action in hospitals across England in early October as part of their national ay dispute with the Government. This page explains what this means for people under the care of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Industrial action dates

British Medical Association (BMA)

Consultants and junior doctors belonging to the BMA are due to strike from 7:00am on Monday 2nd October 2023 until 7:00am on Thursday 5th October 2023.

Society of Radiographers (SoR)

Therapy and diagnostic radiographers belonging to the SoR are due to strike from 8:00am on Tuesday 3rd October 2023 until 8:00am on Wednesday 4th October 2023.

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.