{"id":203360,"date":"2025-12-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hillfoothealth.nhs.uk\/?p=203360"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:00:00","slug":"public-urged-to-use-nhs-111-ahead-of-doctor-strikes-during-busy-christmas-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hillfoothealth.nhs.uk\/?p=203360","title":{"rendered":"Public urged to use NHS 111 ahead of doctor strikes during busy Christmas period"},"content":{"rendered":"
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People across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to use NHS 111<\/a> for all non-emergency healthcare needs ahead of planned industrial action by resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors) and the busy Christmas period. <\/p>\n

Unions announced a full walkout of resident doctors from 7am on Wednesday 17 December to 7am on Monday 22 December. <\/p>\n

Strike action will create significant challenges for the NHS with staff already managing increase demand for urgent and emergency care, during what is an incredibly challenging winter and our busiest time of year.     <\/p>\n

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside\u2019s Medical Director, Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, is urging people to use NHS 111<\/a> for all non-emergency healthcare needs and to support the safe and timely discharge of loved ones who are ready to leave hospital. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Information:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith this being our busiest time of the year, we\u2019re asking for the public\u2019s support in continuing to use NHS services appropriately. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. But if you need urgent medical help and you’re not sure where to go, use NHS 111 online<\/a><\/a> to get assessed and directed to the right place for you\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The NHS will continue to deliver planned care where possible, especially for patients in greatest clinical need, and we would urge the public to attend any planned appointments unless contacted directly by the NHS to reschedule. <\/p>\n

Local NHS services will be using their websites and social media channels to provide up-to-date information to the public about local service disruption \u2013 so please check before you travel. <\/p>\n

The NHS 111<\/a> service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call, go online or use the NHS App to find out: <\/p>\n