ST HELENS & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has issued advice for patients ahead of today and tomorrow's strike action.

The Trust will be affected by industrial action taking place on Monday, February 6 and Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

It has issued the following advice to patients:

Clinic Appointments and Planned Care

If your appointment is affected by this industrial action, the Trust will contact you directly by phone.

If you are not contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.

You do not need to contact the department in advance.

Emergency and Urgent Care

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is extremely important that you continue to seek medical advice if needed.

READ > Nurses strike: St Helens and Whiston Hospitals face disruption

Anyone who needs urgent medical care should continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening situations - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

St Helens Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)

Please note that on Monday, February 6, St Helens UTC will be operating appointments only. Please call 111 to book an appointment.

NHS 111 Online

The Trust is urging people to make NHS 111 Online their first port of call if they need urgent health advice on days of strike action.

NHS 111 Online can tell you:

  • Where to get help for your symptoms
  • How to find general health information and advice
  • Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
  • How to get a repeat prescription

Need urgent mental health crisis support?

If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse or deteriorates, this can be called a ‘mental health crisis’. In this situation, it is important to get help quickly. 

If you need help, 24/7 support is available for children, young people and adults in St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and Warrington.

For direct support from a trained professional, text REACH to 85258 or call the Mental Health Crisis Team freephone: 0800 051 1508.

GP Services

GP services are not impacted by this strike action. Please continue to attend your GP appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

Please remember to order your repeat prescriptions well in advance. If you do run out of medication, please contact your GP surgery or 111 online who will advise you further.

Maternity Services

Maternity services will not be affected by this industrial action, and you should continue to attend any planned appointments, unless we contact you directly. If you need urgent advice, please contact our Maternity Triage on Tel 0151 290 4489.

Cancer Services

Unless we contact you in advance, you should continue to attend all appointments for cancer care.

The Trust will keep patients updated of any further changes. Follow the link here.