Possible industrial action on 30 November 2011
As many of you will be aware, a number of trade unions are balloting their members to take industrial action on 30 November 2011 in response the Government’s plans to change public sector pensions.
NHS Direct, like other NHS organisations, is doing everything it can to protect the services it provides for patients in the event of industrial action. Our contingency plans aim to ensure we can continue to play our 24/7 role in the urgent care system and if required, support other health service providers who may be affected by the industrial action.
Our plans include:
- Where possible, the use of bank and agency staff to help meet any staffing shortfalls.
- Proactive use of telephone and website messaging to inform patients if the industrial action is impacting on our ability to deliver our services, including advice for patients with urgent and non-urgent symptoms on what to do.
- Encouraging patients to try our online health and symptom checkers first. These enable some patients to care for themselves without seeking telephone advice, and enable a shorter conversation with a nurse for those that do need additional advice on the phone via the ‘click-to-call back’ service.
- Maintaining close contact with the Ambulance Service regarding service levels.
If you would like to know more about these plans, please contact your Regional Director or Regional Head of Service Development.
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