Advice ahead of Resident Doctors strikes in Leicestershire

Ahead of planned strikes by Residents Doctors in England, health bosses in Leicestershire have issued advice to patients.

With GP practices and many pharmacies closed from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April, health officials say it’s important people know where to turn if they need urgent care—especially with a six-day resident doctors’ strike beginning immediately after the holiday.

Dr Andy Ahyow, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB), said people should not delay getting treatment if they are unwell.

“Although GP practices and many pharmacies will be closed over the long Easter weekend, there are still plenty of services available,” he said.
“If you are not sure where to go, use NHS 111, who will help book you into the right service.

“If you are unwell or injured you should seek help straight away and not wait until after the weekend. This is especially important because hospital services will be extremely busy next week.”

The NHS recommends following its established two-step “Need Help Fast” process to make sure everyone receives the most appropriate care:

Step 1: Manage minor illnesses at home where possible, or seek help from a local pharmacy, NHS 111 online, or the NHS App.

Step 2: If the problem persists or is more serious, use NHS 111, who will help book you into the right service.

Walk-in services

To ensure patients are seen in the right place for their needs and to receive a booked appointment to keep waiting times down, it is advisable to use NHS 111 or your GP practice.

If you do want to walk into a service, you can do this at the following locations:

• Oadby Urgent Treatment Centre: 8am to 9pm weekdays, 8am to 8pm weekends and bank holiday

• Merlyn Vaz Urgent Treatment Centre: 8am to 8pm, seven days a week

• Loughborough Urgent Treatment Centre: 24 hours, seven days a week (X-ray available 8.30am to 5pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends)

Rutland Minor Illness and Injury Service: 1pm to 9pm, seven days a week. A few walk-in slots will be available for minor injuries only.

Pharmacies open over Easter

Some pharmacies will be open on the bank holidays for advice and treatment for common illnesses. Full details are available on the LLR ICB website.

Mental health support

For urgent mental health needs:

• Call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option

• Text 0748 063 5199 for a response within four hours
  If you become unwell while away from home in the UK
  If you are travelling within the UK over the Easter break and become unwell:

Resident doctors’ strike

• Resident doctors, who work mainly in hospitals, will begin a planned six-day strike immediately after the Easter bank holiday, from 7 April until 13 April.

  During the strike:

• Please attend any booked appointments, unless you are contacted to reschedule. The NHS will inform patients directly if their appointment needs to change.

• GP practices will remain open as normal.

• Services are expected to be busier than usual, so please use the “Need Help Fast”

  guidance to help the NHS prioritise the most urgent cases.

• Continue to consider self-care for minor conditions and use pharmacies, GP practices

  or NHS 111 for more serious issues.

• Emergency departments remain for life-threatening situations only.

• For mental health crises, follow the same mental health support routes listed above.