Forthcoming National Day of Action

A number of trade unions, of which NNUH staff are members, have voted to take industrial action as part of the National Day of Action on 30 November.

The Unions involved in this action are UNISON, Unite, the Society of Radiographers, Managers in Partnership, the Chartered Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, British Association of Occupational Therapists and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.

The Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives and the British Medical Association are not involved in the Day of Action and have not balloted their members on taking industrial action.

Emergency services at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will continue as normal on Wednesday 30 November and we would also ask that members of the public use NHS services appropriately to ensure that A&E and other emergency services do not become overstretched.

Although we are doing everything possible to maintain services, unfortunately we are having to rearrange some patients’ appointments and non-emergency procedures as a consequence of the industrial action. We have not taken this decision lightly; however it is important that we are able to maintain a high quality and safe service to our patients at all times.

Anna Dugdale, Chief Executive of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust, said “We are very sorry for the stress and inconvenience this will cause to our patients and their families and we will do everything in our power to rearrange those patients affected as soon as possible.

“We are grateful to our staff for ensuring that surgery for cancer patients will not be affected.

“We are asking patients who are due to be admitted or to attend a clinic or outpatient appointment on 30th November to attend as normal unless informed by the hospital that their admission or appointment will be affected.

“We will provide regular updates our website (www.nnuh.nhs.uk) as the extent of the action becomes clearer.”

As the strike will be widespread throughout the public sector we also expect schools to be severely affected and as a result we have asked our staff to ensure that they have childcare arrangements in place.