Industrial action by RCN: Information for our patients on 30th April and 1st May

Posted 26th April 2023

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are taking further industrial action at hospitals across England, from 8.00pm on Sunday 30th April to 11.59pm on Monday 1st May.

The strike is part of a national pay dispute with the Government. It will affect health services across our region. Before the bank holiday weekend and the strike, it is sensible to check you have enough of any regular medication you take - for example, medication for other health conditions or that is prescribed by your GP.

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: Inpatients will continue to receive appropriate care during the strike.

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 online 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.