Cheltenham A&E temporarily closed
The service will temporarily switch to a Minor Injury and Illness Unit from today.
The accident and emergency service at Cheltenham General Hospital will be temporary closed and will instead operate as a Minor Injuries and Illness Unit. The A&E service will reopen on Tuesday 2 July at 8am.
The closure is to reduce disruption caused by the Junior Doctor's strike which begins on Thursday (27/6).
People are being advised to use the A&E service at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital instead during this period.
The changes will mean all available emergency care staff can come together in Gloucester to keep services safe.
Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Thursday 27 June and Tuesday 2 July should attend as usual unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise.
Chief Medical Officer at NHS Gloucestershire, Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram (Raghu) said:
“The five-day strike will pose significant challenges to the local NHS, particularly hospital services, and we are sorry that patients might experience disruption to services.
One Gloucestershire health and care partners are working closely together to ensure those in greatest need continue to have access to high quality care and support.
However, it’s vital that we all work together to keep A&E in Gloucester clear for life threatening conditions and serious injuries.
The public can help by thinking carefully about their healthcare options and getting advice when needed from NHS 111. Advice will also be available through local NHS social media channels.”