HEALTH bosses have issued advice to residents and holidaymakers in south Devon during the latest junior doctors strike.

With the NHS facing four days of disruption and appointments and procedures postponed, advice is being given in accessing health services during the walkout. 

This is the fifth strike by junior doctors and August is the ninth month of action within the NHS. 

Emergency care will be prioritised during the industrial action and the public should continue to use 999 in a life threatening emergency and NHS 111 for other non-urgent health concerns. 

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “This latest round of junior doctors strikes will again significantly disrupt services for patients and the additional challenge this time is that organisations are unable to use agency workers to cover staff out on strike. 

‘It is also a period of time where NHS staff often take annual leave, so there are already gaps in the workforce. 

‘We will continue to prioritise emergency care, but it inevitably means that many thousands of appointments will need to be postponed.’

He stressed GPs and pharmacies are open and largely unaffected by strikes. 

Anyone with an appointment who has not been told it is being postponed, should turn up as normal. 

Dr Nigel Acheson, chief medical officer at NHS Devon, said: ‘Over the next five days, people should still seek the care they need as they usually would – calling 999 in life threatening emergencies but using NHS 111 online for other health concerns.

‘The culmination of months of strikes, combined with the summer holiday season and increased visitors to the south west, means it could be a really difficult on the frontline.

‘The NHS is prioritising resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only reschedule appointments and procedures where necessary and will rebook immediately, where possible.’

Dr Acheson added: ‘Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. 

'The message from the NHS in Devon is that urgent and emergency care will be there for you, but please choose the right service for your needs.’

Advice for patients:

Hospital appointments 

The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. 

Urgent or emergency care

People should go to 111 online for medical help and advice but call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency. 

During strike days, it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy and NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff – therefore longer call response times are expected across the system. As a result, we are urging anyone with non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online. 

For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website. 

Please check hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Care Centres.

If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:

    GP and dental appointments

    GP practices will continue to be open as normal during the strikes. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise. 

    Keep yourself safe and well

    The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members.