Patients and visitors

For our latest visiting guidance, please view our visiting information page.

Consultant doctors have voted in favour of industrial action to support their junior doctor colleagues, this will be in the form of strike action at 7am on Wednesday 20 September to 7am on Thursday 21 September.

Consultants will then return to work whilst junior doctor colleagues will continue to strike until 7am on Saturday 23 September.

If you have an appointment planned during the industrial action 

To help us keep our patients safe we have had to cancel appointments and planned operations. We know this may be disappointing and concerning for people waiting for treatment and we are sorry this is the case. We will re-arrange appointments as quickly as we can.  

We have contacted affected patients to let them know that their operation or appointment has been cancelled. If you don’t hear from us, please attend your hospital appointments as planned. 

If you have any questions about your planned operation or appointment during this time please call the telephone number included on your appointment letter. 

What if I need medical care? 

Our Emergency Departments will remain open for people who need life-saving treatment or emergency care during this period. Please be aware that there could be long waits to be seen if you attend our emergency departments during this time. 

If you need non-emergency medical care or advice, please call the NHS 111 helpline, or visit NHS 111 Online.

NHS 111 is available to make it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment for their physical or mental health, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Please contact NHS 111 if

1. You need medical help fast, but it's not a 999 emergency. 
2. You don't know who to call for medical help or you don't have a GP to call. 
3. You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service; or. 
4. You require health information or reassurance about what to do next. 

We are still offering video appointments - read more about this appointment service on our AttendAnywhere video consultations page.

If you have a message, card, or letter for someone who is currently staying in one of our hospitals - Basildon, Braintree, Broomfield, Southend, Orsett or St Peter's - please complete the form on our patient experience page.

To find out more information about patient transport and the support that you can get, please visit https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/health/personalised-care/transport.