Sussex NHS trust says ‘we are prepared’

The trust has said staff will be ‘working hard’ to ensure services continue to operate during Wednesday’s day of action by unions representing public sector employees.

Michael Wilson, chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are prepared for the industrial action on November 30.

“We have plans in place to ensure the majority of our services continue to operate and we have been working well with staff and union representatives to ensure minimum disruption for our patients.

“Public and patients should assume that services are running as normal unless we contact them directly.”

Jo Thomas, Chief Nurse added: “Our staff and volunteers have frequently shown their overriding commitment to patient care and safety when rising to challenges such as severe weather conditions.

“These occasions can significantly reduce staff numbers at short notice and we will be using our well-tested plans and experience to maintain our services.”

While the trust say their priority will be to ‘maintain safe levels of care’ for emergency patients, non-urgent patient transport services may be limited on the day.

Any patients who believe they may have difficulty attending any of our hospitals for appointments on Wednesday are asked to call the number on their appointment letter so that we might offer them a new date.