What’s the likelihood of the NHS strikes impacting elective day surgery?

RainSoakedNights · 2025-07-23T17:24:10+00:00

I know it’s not easy to tell. But just any general indication? I’m due to have surgery on Thursday next week - so after the strikes but is it possible for them to still impact it? Is it rude if I call the hospital next week and ask?

Original poster

RainSoakedNights · 23/07/2025 20:10

Anyone?

OP posts:

nocoolnamesleft · 23/07/2025 20:17

There hasn't been NHS wide guidance to cancel electives this time (which is probably rash) but individual trusts may need to cancel some. Our trust, for instance, is still desperately trying to work out if it can safely get away without cancelling elective work, and it's probably going to vary from one department to another.

Original poster

RainSoakedNights · 23/07/2025 20:31

nocoolnamesleft · 23/07/2025 20:17

There hasn't been NHS wide guidance to cancel electives this time (which is probably rash) but individual trusts may need to cancel some. Our trust, for instance, is still desperately trying to work out if it can safely get away without cancelling elective work, and it's probably going to vary from one department to another.

Fair enough, thank you! I’m hopeful that because the surgery isn’t on a strike day it should be okay, but I just want to be prepared for it to possibly not be

OP posts:

PearlsMaybe · 23/07/2025 20:37

A couple of years ago I was in A&E on a drip when the A&E nurses strike started.

It was quite funny in a way, because right up the moment the strike started they were all working away busily, and the minute the strike started they all stopped and started talking politics at the nurses' station. One of the mangers came in and sat in my room and we had a lovely chat about all the governments he'd worked under and how "they're all the same" he said.

They discharged me literally on the dot of the time the strike started, and I had to go to the nurses' station to ask to have the cannula removed because they were busy talking about the strike. It was a really interesting experience. When I went out, the A&E watiing room was almost completely empty, and it normally was totally full, with everyone waiting 10 hours to be dealt with.

The did me an absolute world of good and I was properly golden for about 2 years afterwards. Flagging a bit just at the moment.

I think you might need to phone the hospital tbh. Sorry I was just wittering there, but I just wanted to to talk about it as it was so interesting.

Frostynoman · 23/07/2025 20:39

Keep a watching brief. We’ve had scans cancelled due to it but that was them taking the initiative and just before the strike was confirmed. As someone said up post, it depends on the trust and on the day

Original poster

RainSoakedNights · 23/07/2025 20:42

PearlsMaybe · 23/07/2025 20:37

A couple of years ago I was in A&E on a drip when the A&E nurses strike started.

It was quite funny in a way, because right up the moment the strike started they were all working away busily, and the minute the strike started they all stopped and started talking politics at the nurses' station. One of the mangers came in and sat in my room and we had a lovely chat about all the governments he'd worked under and how "they're all the same" he said.

They discharged me literally on the dot of the time the strike started, and I had to go to the nurses' station to ask to have the cannula removed because they were busy talking about the strike. It was a really interesting experience. When I went out, the A&E watiing room was almost completely empty, and it normally was totally full, with everyone waiting 10 hours to be dealt with.

The did me an absolute world of good and I was properly golden for about 2 years afterwards. Flagging a bit just at the moment.

I think you might need to phone the hospital tbh. Sorry I was just wittering there, but I just wanted to to talk about it as it was so interesting.

Oh, that’s interesting!

im really, really supportive of the strike. If it’s cancelled, it’s cancelled, but i just need to prepare myself 😅

OP posts:

What’s the likelihood of the NHS strikes impacting elective day surgery?

Interested in this thread?