With the upcoming Easter Bank Holiday weekend, industrial action by resident doctors', and current Norovirus outbreak, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) are urging the local community to choose services wisely and consider alternatives to the Emergency Department where their medical need it non-urgent. This will 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 Tuesday, 7 April to 7am on Monday, 13 April 2026. 

While NHS services are likely to be exceptionally busy and disruption should be expected over the next six days, it’s important that those who need urgent and emergency care should still come forward. If you have had diarrhoea or vomiting, please do not visit until you have been symptom free for at least 48 hours. 

Throughout previous strikes, high numbers of patients still attended East Surrey Hospital’s Emergency Department, and with the hospital already experiencing a sustained increase in demand alongside Norovirus cases, 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 hard 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 Norovirus in recent weeks, and at a time where we are trying to get our patients who are well enough home in a timely manner, we are expecting that our services will be exceptionally busy both during and after this latest period of industrial action.  

“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 7 and 13 April to continue to attend unless they have informed you otherwise. 

Patients who need medical advice or non-life-threatening care should: 

  • Use 111 online as their first port of call as this will be able to identify the most appropriate local service, patients should only call 111 if they do not have access to the internet.  

  • Patients should also make use of local pharmacies and General Practice for non-urgent medical issues as much as possible.  

  • Visit the local Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) and Minor Injury Units (MIU). These will be running as normal during industrial action: 

  • Caterham MIU (if aged 18 and over) – Located at Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA. Open 9am – 8pm, seven days a week. This is a convenient alternative to A&E and is run by qualified emergency nurse practitioners. The MIU provides treatment for cuts and grazes, sprains and strains, broken bones (fractures), bites and stings, infected wounds, eye problems such as infections or scratches, sports injuries, minor burns and scalds. X-ray facilities available on site. 

  • Crawley UTC – Located at Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH. Open 7:30am to 10pm, seven days a week. UTCs treat most injuries that are urgent but not life threatening. For example, sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings. 

  • Horsham MIU – Located at Horsham Hospital, Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DR. Open 9am – 5pm from Monday – Friday, excluding bank holidays. They are a minor injuries unit staffed by emergency nurse practitioners and other nursing and ancillary staff. They provide assessment and treatment of a wide range of minor injuries in both adults and children. Following assessment patients may be treated and discharged or, if appropriate, referred onto other health care providers. X-ray facilities available on site. 

  • East Grinstead MIU – Located at Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ. Open 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. The unit is run by emergency practitioners who are well-trained and experienced specialist nurses and paramedics who are able to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of minor injuries and ailments for both adults and children over one year old. X-ray is available for Minor Injuries Unit patients if required Monday - Friday 8.30am -5pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm and Sunday/bank holidays 10am - 1pm for adults and children over four years. On call cover is also available for emergency referrals outside of these hours. 

Patients should only call 999 or come to A&E in a life-threatening emergency. 

Patients who have an appointment on strike days:   

  • Should continue to attend any appointments as planned unless we have contacted you to rearrange.  

  • The safety of our patients is our absolute priority, and appointments will only be rearranged as a last resort to ensure that we have enough frontline staff to care for those who are critically or seriously ill. 

  • We do understand how frustrating this will be for our patients. Please bear with us and we will do everything we can to re-book you for the earliest possible date.