0800 number to check if appointments affected by strike

MEDIA RELEASE

10 January 2019

For immediate release

Canterbury DHB sets up 0800 number for people to check if their planned surgery or outpatient appointment is affected by the junior doctors’ strike action on the 15th and 16th January

Please attribute to Michael Frampton, Chief People Officer, Canterbury DHB

People who have surgery or an outpatient clinic booked on Tuesday 15th or Wednesday 16 January and haven’t had a call from the DHB can check if their surgery or outpatient appointment is going ahead next week by calling 0800 778 226.

This line will be answered 8am – 5pm daily until Thursday 17 January.

When you call, you should state your name, contact phone number and NHI number if you have it [Your NHI number is on your appointment letter and contains three letters and four digits eg ABC 1234.] After-hours you can leave a message and someone will call you back.

Canterbury DHB is trying to call everyone whose surgery or appointment has to be rescheduled. If you haven’t heard from us and you haven’t been around your phone or don’t have voice mail, please call 0800 778 226 number to check if your appointment or surgery is still on.

Some complex surgeries in the days leading up to the 48 hour strike - which runs from 7am Tuesday 15 January until 7am on Thursday 17 January – are also being rescheduled.

We apologise to those who have been affected, our focus is on safe care and to ensure our available resources are put to the best use. To ensure we have capacity for emergency care, we need to reduce the number of people in our hospitals and health centres.

ENDS

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