Junior doctors industrial action
At Milton Keynes University Hospital
There is no change to urgent and emergency care. If your condition is serious or life threatening, call 999 or go to the Emergency Department. If you need medical help on these days but it’s not serious or life-threatening, please contact your GP, visit your local pharmacist, call 111 or consult www.nhs.uk.
Milton Keynes University Hospital waiting times may be longer than usual and the majority of elective (planned) care appointments (including operations, procedures and outpatient clinics) have been postponed and rearranged for a different date.
If you've got planned operation, procedure, or outpatient appointment on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday they will contact you if it needs to be rearranged. If you've not been contacted, please attend as planned.
Frequently asked questions
What is happening?
Trade unions representing NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over the 2022/2023 pay award. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action. This is the first round of action by the BMA and continuous strike action is expected to take place on Monday 13 March to Thursday 16 March and will include junior doctors from Milton Keynes University Hospital.
The MKUH website states that:
"The NHS wants to see a resolution as soon as possible but pay is a matter for the Government and the trade unions."
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
If you need urgent care you should use NHS111 online or call NHS 111 to be assessed and directed to the right place. If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999 or attending A&E.
What if I have an appointment on strike days?
Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned, unless MKUH have contacted you to reschedule. If your appointment has been postponed and you were due to go into hospital using patient transport ambulance services, please let them know.
Will emergency care be affected on strike days?
Emergency care will continue to be available. It's really important that in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill, or their life is at risk, patients continue to come forward as normal.
Will GP services be affected on strike days?
GP services will be running as normal on strike days. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
MKUH will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This will be via phone call. Following the initial cancellation, they will be in contact with you to offer an alternative date for your appointment.
Is there anything I should do now?
No. The hospital will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?
No, unless MKUH have already been in touch to reschedule, please attend your appointment as planned. If you're not sure if your appointment is going ahead, please contact the clinic / department in your letter.
How long will services be impacted?
This is a continuous 72-hour strike which means industrial action will start on Monday 13 March and last until Thursday 16 March and last over the course of those days and nights.
