Nursing and ambulance strikes – January 2023

04 January 2023 - Important information for patients

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced that strike action will take place at a number of NHS trusts across the country, including King’s, on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 January.

The strike action will impact some services run by the Trust. This includes services at King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington Hospital, plus some services at Beckenham Beacon and Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup.

We are working with the RCN to make sure we can continue to provide key emergency and urgent services on the strike days. However, to help us safely manage the impact of the strikes, we will need to postpone some routine and non-urgent appointments and procedures scheduled for the strike days.

If we need to re-schedule operations or appointments scheduled for 18 and 19 January, we will contact patients directly to let them know, either via text, telephone or letter. If you have an appointment at any of our hospitals, please assume this is going ahead unless you have been told otherwise.

If you’re concerned and feel you need to speak to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact your clinical team directly, or our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Ambulance workers are taking strike action on Wednesday 11 and Monday 23 January. Our Emergency Departments at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital will remain open at all times – please do attend as normal if you need urgent care. If you need medical help or advice, go to NHS 111 online https://111.nhs.uk/ or call 111 unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.