Services will continue as usual here at ELFT so please attend any booked appointments. Our staff will be here and ready to see you. So far, Unions affiliated with the Trust did not reach the required threshold of votes in their ballots so did not meet the requirements to take part in industrial action. GP services are not impacted by this strike action so please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
If You Need Urgent Medical Care
It is important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
On days when there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency [when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk]. Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or through NHS 111.
Your local pharmacy can also advise you as always.
See here for more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E
Mental Health Crisis Lines
If you need urgent help with your mental health, here are some of the options available to you. Services operate 24/7 every day of the year.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, if they are hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there, or are experiencing an urgent and immediate mental health crisis, please call:
- If you live in Bedfordshire call NHS 111 (option 2)
- If you live in City & Hackney call Free Phone 0800 073 0006*
- If you live in Luton call NHS 111 (option 2)
- If you live in Newham call Free Phone 0800 073 0066
- If you live in Tower Hamlets call Free Phone 0800 073 0003
If you or another person have been harmed or are at immediate risk you may require an emergency response contact 999 and ask for the relevant service.
* We are experiencing some issues with our City and Hackney crisis phone lines. You might find the phone is ringing for longer than you would expect which is not ideal We are trying to resolve this so please stay on the line - we will get to your call. We apologise for the added wait.
Young People (under 18 years)
If necessary, the crisis line contacts above can divert young people to be seen by CAMHS nurses outside of A&E between 9.00 am-9.00 pm Monday to Friday (East London & Bedfordshire / Luton) and 8.00 am-8.00 pm (East London) and 10.00 am-8.00 pm (Bedfordshire / Luton) on weekends and public holidays. Outside these hours the crisis telephone staff will offer advice and arrange an urgent assessment if needed.