People across the South are being urged to help support NHS services by choosing the right care, as resident doctors begin further industrial action during one of the busiest periods of the year for the health service.
The British Medical Association says the walkout will run from now until Sunday. The action comes as the NHS faces increased winter pressures, with flu cases rising earlier and more widely than usual, and emergency departments already experiencing higher demand.
In Sussex, the NHS says it is working closely with partner organisations to protect patient safety and maintain essential services throughout the period of industrial action. Emergency and life-saving care will continue to be available, and other NHS staff, including consultants, nurses and wider clinical teams, will remain at work.
However, health leaders warn that there may be fewer doctors available than normal during the strikes. As a result, clinical teams will prioritise the most urgent and critical care. Less urgent cases could face longer waiting times, and some appointments may need to be rescheduled. Patients will be contacted directly if their appointment needs to change, and anyone who has not been contacted is advised to attend as planned.
To help ensure services remain available for those who need them most, the NHS in Sussex is asking the public to choose the right NHS service for their needs. People are encouraged to use NHS 111 online or by phone as a first point of contact for non-life-threatening health concerns, and to only call 999 or attend A&E for serious or life-threatening emergencies. The public is also being asked to avoid visiting hospitals if they have flu or COVID-19 symptoms unless it is an emergency, and to support the timely discharge of loved ones who are medically ready to leave hospital.
GP practices will remain open during the industrial action. Some resident doctors who train in GP surgeries, known as GP registrars, may take part in the strike, but practices will continue to operate as normal. Patients should continue to attend GP and dental appointments unless told otherwise.
Across Sussex, NHS teams are also working to help people receive care closer to home wherever it is safe to do so. This includes urgent community response services, which can provide rapid support in people’s homes, often within two hours, helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support recovery.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis, Staying Well services remain available across Sussex as a safe alternative to A&E. Open every evening, including throughout Christmas and the New Year, these services offer walk-in, out-of-hours mental health support for adults who need urgent help.
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