Isle of Wight health services continue to be unaffected by the strikes sweeping the NHS on the mainland but there is a warning it doesn't mean everything is rosy

Nurses and ambulance staff in the Isle of Wight NHS Trust have stayed off the picket lines so far in the national dispute.

A spokesperson for the trust said the decisions not to strike made life a little easier in tough times.

He also said transfers to the mainland were not being affected by strikes as they were carried out by Isle of Wight teams.

Yesterday, St Mary's Hospital in Newport reintroduced compulsory mask-wearing and has cancelled all routine outpatient appointments amid extreme pressure on Island services.

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An announcement on Monday said that due to an increase in flu cases, compulsory mask-wearing in clinical areas is required with immediate effect.

The trust also announced all routine outpatient appointments are being cancelled until at least Friday.

The trust will continue to prioritise cancer treatment and urgent operations, but all other planned surgical activity is being postponed.

Impacted patients will be contacted.

Isle of Wight County Press: Director of nursing Juliet Pearce.Director of nursing Juliet Pearce. (Image: Newsquest)

Juliet Pearce, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: "Almost every day more people arrive at the hospital than leave, and many of these urgently need our help and a hospital bed.

"Our teams are working extremely hard to find beds for everyone who needs them. 

"We have added as many extra beds as we safely can, turning our endoscopy ward into a ten-bed ward to support the emergency department. We have appealed to all of our staff to work extra hours."

A trust spokesman said the following points were vital:

  • The changes don't affect eye clinic or people receiving cancer treatment
  • If your appointment is affected they will contact you directly
  • If you haven’t been contacted by the trust attend as planned

Families and friends are being asked to support the NHS by collecting patients from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged and to consider offering short-term support and care for their loved ones at home.