People in Teesside urged to 'choose the right NHS services' as strikes and flu clash
Health leaders say they're confident they can cope
Teesside health leaders say plans are in place to help cope with what's being called a difficult time for NHS services.
On top of winter pressures and an early spike in the flu season, resident doctors at the BMA are striking until Monday in a row over pay and jobs.
Amy Oxley, deputy director of nursing for University Hospital Tees, said:
"Like many hospitals across the region, we are seeing significant increases in admissions relating to flu and respiratory illnesses. However, staff are working extremely hard to ensure patients are seen as quickly and safely as possible. The safety of our patients and the delivery of care is of paramount importance.
"We've exercised our winter plans which has additional bed capacity as part of that. We have stepped into those beds and we do have patients occupying those beds, but again, we're just taking all precautions to make sure we flow through those beds as best we can, so they are available that then need admitting.
"I'm confident we'll be able to cope although it will be busy and for patients that may mean extended waiting times when accessing services, so it's really important therefore that we use all services across health so that the most sickest patients can get care at the quickest point.
"We've had really robust planning for industrial action as well as planning for winter. We've done them in tandem and we will respond by putting appropriate measures in place to make sure that our staff are safe, and that our patients receive the care that they need during this time."
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“The BMA has chosen Christmas strikes to inflict damage on the NHS at the moment of maximum danger, refusing the postpone them to January to help patients and other NHS staff cope over Christmas. There is no need for these strikes to go ahead this week, and it reveals the BMA’s shocking disregard for patient safety and for other NHS staff. These strikes are self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous.
“The government’s offer would have halved competition for jobs and put more money in resident doctors’ pockets, but the BMA has again rejected it because it doesn’t meet their ask of a further 26% pay rise. Resident doctors have already had a 28.9% pay rise – there is no justification for striking just because this fantasy demand has not been met.
“I am appealing to ordinary resident doctors to go to work this week. There is a different magnitude of risk in striking at this moment. Abandoning your patients in their hour of greatest need goes against everything a career in medicine is meant to be about.
“The entire focus of my department and the NHS team will now be on getting the health service through the double whammy of flu and strikes. We have already vaccinated 17 million people, 170,000 more than last year, and we will be working intensively with frontline leaders to prepare for the coming disruption.”
BMA resident doctors committee (RDC) chair Dr Jack Fletcher said:
“Our members have considered the Government’s offer, and their resounding response should leave the Health Secretary in no doubt about how badly he has just fumbled his opportunity to end industrial action. Tens of thousands of frontline doctors have come together to say ‘no’ to what is clearly too little, too late.
“There are no new jobs in this offer – he has simply cannibalised those jobs which already existed for the sake of ‘new’ jobs on paper. Neither was there anything on what Mr Streeting has said is a journey to restoring our pay – that has clearly hit the buffers.
“This week’s strike is still entirely avoidable – the Health Secretary should now work with us in the short time we have left to come up with a credible offer to end this jobs crisis and avert the real terms pay cuts he is pushing in 2026. We're willing to work to find a solution if he is.
“We remain committed to ensuring patient safety, as we have done with all previous rounds of strike action, and urge hospital trusts to continue planning to ensure safe staffing. We will be in close contact with NHS England throughout the strikes to address safety concerns if they arise.”
Dr Neil O'Brien, chief medical officer for the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said:
"This strike has come at a time when NHS services are seeing increased demand due to the early spread of winter viruses, such as flu, in our communities and also amongst hospital staff, meaning fewer staff to cover.
"People can expect long delays and more disruption to NHS services during the industrial action.
"Emergency and urgent care services will be prioritised during this time, so we really need the public's understanding to only call 999 and attend emergency departments if it is a genuine life-threatening injury or illness."
"For urgent health needs that are not life threatening, please use NHS 111 online or by phone.
"If you have friends or loved ones in hospital, we urge you not to visit if you are unwell yourself or have been unwell in the past 48 hours, to help prevent further spread of viruses within our hospitals.
"GP practices and local pharmacies will still be open as usual during the industrial action to help with advice and treatments, as well as offering flu jab vaccinations, which we recommend everyone who is eligible to have it".
The NHS is also reminding the public to keep their appointments unless they hear otherwise.
Dr O'Brien added:
"People will be contacted directly if there are any changes to their planned appointment or surgery, and there is no need to contact the NHS about this."
The public are reminded for urgent health needs, which are not life threatening, www.111.nhs.uk is available 24 hours a day. Its symptom checker can be used to assess symptoms, and it will direct to a health professional if people need to be seen by someone. Also, self-care advice is available on NHS online.
Parents, carers and young people can also use the Healthier Together app or website which provides NHS healthcare advice and top tips on a range of child related illnesses along with information on local services.
Anyone needing mental health crisis support can phone NHS 111 and select the mental health option.