Departments urge public to stay safe during strike action

Departments have reiterated the call for people to keep themselves safe tomorrow with snow and ice forecast and widespread disruption to public services anticipated as a result of strike action.

The winter gritting service will be severely impacted and road users are being asked to think carefully about the need to travel.

There will be no bus or train services.

The Department of Health said that the disruption to services will be on a scale not experienced from previous industrial action and has asked the public to take all sensible steps to reduce the chances of requiring health service treatment on the day.

The Head of the Civil Service Jayne Brady met with department permanent secretaries earlier today to discuss the impacts on public services by the strike action and the need to keep people safe.

They are due to meet again tomorrow and will continue to keep the situation under review.

The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) is advising people not to travel unless essential and if they need to travel, to take particular care on Thursday and Friday given the potential for icy conditions and disruption to the gritting service.

DOH said they are ‘extremely concerned’ about the potential impact of industrial action and while every effort will be made to mitigate the impact on the public, there will be widespread disruption to all aspects of health and social care services.

This is expected to impact across a wide range of areas including planned and unplanned (urgent/emergency) hospital services, community services such as day centres, district nursing and domiciliary care as well as ambulance cover.

The Department has asked the public to be very conscious of the fact that a significantly reduced health service will be in place. This would mean not just delays over and above existing levels but some services not being available at all.

It has asked the public to use services appropriately and help ensure care is available to those who need it most and to take all sensible steps to reduce your chances of requiring health service treatment on the day.

A DOH spokesperson said, If you need emergency hospital care on the day, you must seek it immediately.
Trusts will work with trade union representatives to seek to protect emergency care and information will be available on Trust websites.”

Education bodies have said there will be severe disruption and widespread school closures impacting the vast majority of pupils.