In the midst of increasing winter pressures and upcoming resident doctors' strikes, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) is urging the local community to choose services wisely to help ensure care is available for patients who need it most.
Resident doctors who are members of The British Medical Association (BMA), are expected to take part in another round of industrial action from 7am on Wednesday, 17 December to 7am on Monday, 22 December 2025.
While NHS services are likely to be exceptionally busy and disruption should be expected, it’s important that those who need urgent and emergency care should still come forward.
Throughout previous strikes, high numbers of patients still attended East Surrey Hospital’s Emergency Department, and with the hospital already experiencing a number of early winter pressures with higher levels of demand and cases of flu, it is vital that people choose services wisely to ensure everyone gets the care they need.
Utilising alternative services such as NHS 111, walk-in-centres, GP practices, pharmacies, Crawley Urgent Treatment Centre and the Minor Injury Units at Caterham Dene, Horsham and East Grinstead for non-life threatening medical conditions will mean that Emergency Departments are still available for the patients who need it most. Please only dial 999 or the East Surrey Emergency Department in a genuine emergency, such as if you are seriously ill or experiencing a life-threatening emergency.
Hospital staff will be working around the clock to ensure the safe care of all patients who need urgent and emergency treatment, as well as maintaining as much routine care as possible, and while disruption should be expected, the Trust is working hard to minimise this. People should therefore not put off seeking vital care on strike days and should continue to attend any planned appointments unless they have been contacted to rearrange.
Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“With the hospital already experiencing higher levels of demand and cases of flu in recent weeks, and at a time where we are trying to get our patients who are well enough home for Christmas, we are expecting that our services will be exceptionally busy both during and after this latest period of industrial action as we head into Christmas and New Year.
“While our teams will be working hard around the clock to minimise disruption, continue to care for those who need us and support patients awaiting discharge to ensure people are in the right healthcare setting for their needs, we would be grateful for the support of the local community in utilising other NHS services where their condition is not life-threatening. This will ensure we can care for the most emergent and serious cases.”
The Trust has also advised patients with scheduled appointments between 17 and 22 December to continue to attend unless they have informed you otherwise.