Airedale Hospital is warning local people to only go to A&E with life or limb-threatening emergencies during the upcoming strikes by junior doctors and consultants.
Health bosses say hospitals will be under significant pressure due to the walkouts.
Junior doctors are taking part in a 5 day strike from Thursday 13th July until 7am on Tuesday 18th July, while consultants will then take industrial action for 48-hours from 7am on Thursday 20th July to 7am on Saturday 22nd July.
We're being warned that people attending A&E with non-urgent or emergency conditions will likely be waiting significantly longer than usual.
If you need medical help or advice, or are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, visit NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.
If you have not been contacted for your appointment to be rescheduled you should attend that appointment as planned.
Leanne Cooper, Chief Operating Officer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “We need the public’s help to only come to A&E if it is a genuine emergency so we can care for our sickest patients.
“The impact of the industrial action and the fact we will have fewer doctors and consultants on site means that waiting times for non-urgent problems are likely to be longer than normal. We encourage you to seek help from NHS 111, your GP or local pharmacist and avoid a long wait.”
Saj Azeb, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Both periods of industrial action will severely reduce the number of doctors and consultants we have in our hospitals, and this has a particular impact in A&E. That’s why we have to prioritise the clinically most urgent patients.
“People can really help us during this time by only using A&E services when absolutely necessary. There are many other ways to get healthcare advice and treatment which will be quicker and will help us care for those who need us most.”
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