• Resident doctors to take part in industrial action from Friday 14 – Wednesday 19 November
• Healthcare help available as resources focus on prioritising emergency care and urgent services
• 111.nhs.uk provides healthcare help for symptoms

Resident doctors are set to take part in a fresh round of strike action from 7am on Friday 14 – Wednesday 19 November.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has robust plans in place to try and minimise the impact of strikes on patients during and after the action.

Patients with appointments booked on strike days will be contacted if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action.

If patients have not been contacted, they should attend their appointment as planned. Any appointments that need to be rescheduled will be done so as a priority.

The NHS is sharing advice to help people understand where to go for care during the strikes.

Dr Francis Andrews, Medical Director and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

Our top priority is to keep patients safe and our well-tested plans ensure we’re able to continue delivering essential services during strikes.

“Our Emergency Department remains open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and it’s important people do not put off coming forward for urgent care in life or limb-threatening emergencies as our staff are here to help you.

“We’re asking people in Bolton to help us during this challenging period by using 111.nhs.uk or the NHS App for advice about your condition and where the right place is for the care you need.

“You can also book an appointment with your GP or visit one of your local pharmacies, who are able to help with a range of common conditions such as earache, sore throat, and urinary tract infections.

Accessing NHS services during strike action

Throughout this challenging period, our urgent and emergency services are still here to help those who need it.

If your condition is not an emergency or life or limb threatening, please consider using a different service for your care:

• NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week either online or by phone.
• Make an appointment with your local GP.
• Visit your local pharmacy.
• Use GP out of hours by phoning your own GP surgery and following the instructions on the answering machine. Alternatively, you can phone BARDOC directly on 0161 763 8940.
• Access to urgent dental care is available for patients across Greater Manchester, supported by the Urgent Dental Care Helpline (0333 332 3800).

British sign language (BSL) users can use the NHS 111 video interpreter service by visiting their website.

Repeat prescriptions should be ordered in advance of industrial action to ensure people have enough of their regular medications.

The While You Wait website also has lots of helpful information on staying well whilst you wait for treatment.