Nursing assistants and maternity support workers, who are members of UNISON, are expected to take part in further industrial action, on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 July 2024.

Trust services are expected to be very busy, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) is urging the local community to choose services wisely to help ensure care is available for patients who need it most.

While disruption should be expected, it vital that people who need urgent and emergency care continue to come forward.

Tina Hetherington, Chief Nurse at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:

“Our teams are working hard to minimise disruption and care for all those who need us throughout this latest period of industrial action. Our services are likely to be very busy, so if your condition isn’t life-threatening, please use other NHS services such as 111 online, your local pharmacy or GP, or nearby treatment centres at Crawley, Caterham Dene, Horsham and East Grinstead, which will be running as normal and will be able to see you much sooner. This will help ensure emergency care is available to patients who need it most.”

The Trust has also advised patients with a scheduled appointments on 25 and 26 July to continue to attend unless they have informed you otherwise. 

Patients who need medical advice or non-life-threatening care should:

  • Use 111 online as their first port of call as this will be able to identify the most appropriate local service, patients should only call 111 if they do not have access to the internet.
  • Patients should also make use of local pharmacies and General Practice for non-urgent medical issues as much as possible.
  • Visit the local Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) and Minor Injury Units (MIU). These will be running as normal during industrial action:
    • Caterham MIU (if aged 5 years and over) – Located at Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA. Open 9am – 8pm, seven days a week. This is a convenient alternative to A&E and is run by qualified emergency nurse practitioners. The MIU provides treatment for cuts and grazes, sprains and strains, broken bones (fractures), bites and stings, infected wounds, eye problems such as infections or scratches, sports injuries, minor burns and scalds. X-ray facilities are available on-site.
    • Crawley UTC – Located at Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH. Open 7:30am to 10pm, seven days a week. UTCs treat most injuries that are urgent but not life-threatening. For example, sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings.
    • Horsham MIU – Located at Horsham Hospital, Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DR. Open 9am – 5pm from Monday – Friday, excluding bank holidays. They are a minor injuries unit staffed by emergency nurse practitioners and other nursing and ancillary staff. They provide assessment and treatment of a wide range of minor injuries in both adults and children. Following assessment patients may be treated and discharged or, if appropriate, referred to other health care providers. X-ray facilities are available on-site.
    • East Grinstead MIU – Located at Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ. Open 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. The unit is run by emergency practitioners who are well-trained and experienced specialist nurses and paramedics who are able to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of minor injuries and ailments for both adults and children over one year old. X-ray is available for Minor Injuries Unit patients if required Monday - Friday 8.30am -5pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm and Sunday/bank holidays 10am - 1pm for adults and children over four years. On call cover is also available for emergency referrals outside of these hours.

Patients should only call 999 or come to A&E in a life-threatening emergency.

Hospital staff will be working round the clock to ensure the safe care of all patients who need urgent and emergency treatment, as well as maintaining as much routine care as possible, and while disruption should be expected, the Trust are working hard to minimise this. People should therefore not put off seeking vital care on strike days.