Industrial Action - Monday 13 October 2014

A number of our staff are expected to take part in national industrial action on 13 October 2014 between the hours of 7 and 11am in response to the Government’s decision on the 2014/15 pay award.

We recognise that staff have the right to voice their concerns in this way, and we have been working with our staff to ensure we continue to provide safe care for our patients.

We have reviewed the impact that this action may have on our services, and whilst we plan to maintain as many services as possible, a number of planned non-urgent appointments and procedures have been postponed.

This mainly relates to routine antenatal and postnatal appointments, and we have endeavoured to contact those patients that will be affected. Scan appointments will still take place, and we have made arrangements to ensure that we have staff in place on the day to enable us to care for women in labour and emergency cases.

Other impact is likely to relate to whether patients who use patient transport services are able to attend their appointments as a result of the strike action, and we are working with Yorkshire Ambulance Service to understand their plans.

The full impact of the industrial action will not be clear until it is underway, so although unlikely it is possible that we may have to cancel some appointments and procedures on the day. Urgent and emergency work will be unaffected.

If you are due to come to hospital and have not heard from us please attend as normal. If patients are in any doubt about whether to attend, they should get in touch with the department or clinic concerned.

We apologise to patients who may be inconvenienced by this, and also for any delays that may occur on the day. We ask patients and visitors to be patient with our staff who will be working hard to ensure services continue to run as smoothly as possible.

For media enquiries please contact 01904 7211855 or email Rebecca.aspin@york.nhs.uk   

10 October 2014