Members of the Royal College of Nursing and ambulance workers in Sussex will be striking on 6 and 7 February.
The NHS is Sussex is preparing for industrial action this week by Royal College of Nursing and ambulance workers to ensure that patients can continue to get the help and care they need.
The public are being advised that regardless of industrial action, emergency care will continue and people should continue to contact 999 or attend an Emergency Department for a life-saving emergency.
The action is expected to include staff from East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, and our two ambulance providers – South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS).
It does not include nurses working in community services, mental health services or GP practices.
As previously, regardless of any strike action taking place, patients who need urgent medical care will be prioritised, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action, but the NHS will be prioritising those with life-threatening needs. Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
As with the ambulance strikes, in terms of hospital care, emergency care will remain open, with walk-in emergency and urgent services open to patients including Emergency Departments, A&E, Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injuries Units.
Some planned appointments will be affected as trusts ensure that available staff are focused on those who need care and support most. NHS teams are contacting patients directly if their appointment does need to be rescheduled and everyone will be offered an alternative date. If people have not been contacted, they are being encouraged to attend appointments as planned.
Services in our community which are helping us to manage the current high demand will also continue over the two days, such as urgent community response teams and our virtual ward teams.
GP services, pharmacies and dental practices will be running as normal on strike days but are anticipated to be busy.