Welcome to the Norfolk and Waveney ICS Workforce page
Here we will provide the latest important information and updates for our workforce across the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care system.
Industrial Action 2023 /24
Whilst the latest Junior Doctor Industrial Action (24 – 29 February, 2024) has now finished, our health and care system in Norfolk and Waveney remains extremely busy at this time.
We thank people for their patience and understanding while staff work to provide care during increased demand for our services.
We are working to improve how patients flow through our hospitals and are discharged once they have received their treatment. We would ask anyone who has a family member in hospital who is ready to be discharged to speak with staff around how they might be able to provide support such as transport to help them continue their recovery at home.
It is really important people do not delay seeking help from the NHS if they feel unwell. However, we would encourage people to only attend an Emergency Department or call 999 if they have a serious accident or genuine emergency, like chest pain, breathing difficulties, signs of a stroke or bleeding that won’t stop.
If people need urgent health help, please visit NHS 111 online or call 111 to be directed to the most appropriate health service. Local community pharmacies, the Minor Injury Unit in Cromer and the Walk-In Centre in Norwich are also available if you need health help.
Click here for more information about local services.
We thank people for their patience and understanding while staff work to provide care during increased demand for our services.
For the latest information, please click here.
Message from our Executive Medical Director, Dr. Frankie Swords (January & February 2024)
Bitesize versions
Our key focus is on providing safe care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals. We will continue to provide the following services, some of which may be at a reduced level.
Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
During industrial action, we need to reduce the number of appointments we have planned to ensure we have safe levels of staffing. We are contacting patients directly if this means that their appointment will need to be postponed. We understand how disappointing and concerning this will be for those waiting for treatment and we are very sorry this is the case. We will re-arrange these appointments as quickly as possible. If you do not hear from us please attend your appointment as planned.
If you need medical care
If you need medical care or advice, please call the NHS 111 helpline, or visit NHS 111 Online.
Please contact NHS 111 if:
- You need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency.
- You don’t know who to call for medical help or you don’t have a GP to call.
- You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service; or.
- You require health information or reassurance about what to do next.
Industrial action at this scale and pace across the NHS is unprecedented, however, we are working with partners across the Norfolk and Waveney ICS to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services can continue to operate as normal.
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Patient safety to be maintained – Norfolk and Waveney ICS Statement
While pay is a matter for Government and the trade unions, Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering patient care to all those who need it.
Our NHS organisations have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption, including industrial action, and will do everything we can to go ahead with planned procedures, especially for patients in greatest clinical need.
We are working closely with union colleagues and we will be contacting patients direct if appointments are affected by industrial action.
We want to reassure the public that patients should continue to come forward for emergency services as normal and we are committed to keeping disruption in these services to a minimum.
NHSE have stated negotiations will take place at a national level as well as a local level which will provide a clearer picture of how services would be able to operate on days of strike action.
It is viewed by both unions and employers that the key is to maintain patient safety and to decide which services must continue to prevent patients being put at risk.