Health and Care Services during Industrial Action – June 2024

Please familiarise yourself with the following health and care services
should you or a member of your family become ill or have an accident during Industrial action
from 7am on Thursday 6 June to 7am on Saturday 8 June 2024.

Department of Health Statement on Industrial Action

Health and Social Care Industrial Action Updates

Community Pharmacy

Your community pharmacist can offer advice and treatment for common conditions, recommend treatment and refer patients to other healthcare professionals as appropriate. Visit https://bit.ly/PharmacYFirstNI

Children’s symptom checker

Is your child feeling unwell?

Please use our Children’s Symptom Checker for expert advice and guidance on some of the most common conditions and symptoms that affect children.

https://bit.ly/ChildSymptomChecker

A-Z symptom checker

If you have a minor health concern please visit the A-Z Symptom Checker for help and advice at https://bit.ly/A-ZSymptomCheck

Mental health support

Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people in distress or despair.

If you, or someone you know, is in distress or despair, call Lifeline free on 0808 808 8000

Textphone: 18001 0808 808 8000

Calls to Lifeline are answered by qualified counsellors who can provide immediate help and support.

Counsellors are experienced in dealing with suicide, self-harm, trauma, depression and many other issues.

Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year Calls are free from all landlines and mobiles.

www.lifelinehelpline.info

Minor Injuries

A Minor injuries unit can treat injuries that are not critical or life threatening, such as:

• injuries to upper and lower limbs
• broken bones, sprains, bruises and wounds
• bites – human, animal and insect
• burns and scalds
• abscesses and wound infections
• minor head injuries
• broken noses and nosebleeds
• foreign bodies in the eyes and nose

Some Minor Injuries Units are operating a Phone First service. Before you attend please check your local services at https://bit.ly/MinorInjuries

Emergency Departments

Emergency Departments provide the highest level of emergency care for patients, especially those with sudden and acute illness or severe trauma. Some Emergency Departments are operating a Phone First service.  Visit https://bit.ly/PhoneFirst.

Check your local hospital to find out if this service is offered https://bit.ly/LocalHospitalPhoneFirst

For all emergencies that are life threatening, always call 999 immediately. This can include: Stroke, heart attack, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or major trauma.

Waiting Times at Emergency Departments and Minor Injuries Units

Check waiting times at Emergency Department and Minor Injuries Units https://bit.ly/WaitingTimesinED

Timely discharge

Timely discharge from hospital helps saves lives.

Health and Social Care Trusts will work with patients and their families to make arrangements for care support and if the support is not yet available, they can make the necessary arrangements for a temporary stay in a care home.  Find out more at https://bit.ly/TimelyDischargeSavesLives

GP Out of Hours

This service is for urgent medical care when your GP surgery is closed. See your local GP Out of hours service at https://bit.ly/GPoutOfHours