Nurses strike: Dorset County Hospital running 'as many services as possible'
Ambulance workers are also walking out in a row over pay
Members of the Royal College of Nursing are on strike in the South West once again today and tomorrow (Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th Feburary).
That will include staff at Dorset Couty Hospital, with bosses there explaining how services might be affected.
They've said they'll aim to run as many services as possible throughout the walkouts.
We're asked to still attend appointments unless we've been told otherwise.
There's more information on the service levels at DCH on their website.
Ambulance workers with the GMB Union are also striking today (Monday 6th February), between 6.00am and midnight.
A picket line's being set up at Weymouth Ambulance Station on Souter Way throughout the day.
Other paramedic picket lines are being held in Poole, Christchurch and Swanage today.
Paul Birkett-Wendes, from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), said:
“As we look ahead to industrial action on Monday and on Friday 10 February, we are again asking for the public’s support. Please only call 999 for life-threatening emergencies, because we absolutely must have crews available for those, and we will be prioritising these patients first.
“This means there will be other patients waiting for an ambulance, and we will get to them as soon as we can. We are sorry that we may be unable to respond to them as quickly as we would like.
“If you are waiting for an ambulance, please do not call back asking for an estimated time of arrival. We cannot provide this information and it blocks our lines for other callers. “Please be reassured that we are doing all we can to manage winter pressures and the upcoming industrial action.”
There's also a reminder that GP services are not affected.