PATIENTS with an appointment or procedure on Monday will be informed if it has been cancelled because of the bank holiday, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) has confirmed.
It is expected that thousands of hospital and GP appointments scheduled for the day of the Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19 will be postponed in England.
READ MORE: 'Major improvements' needed to food hygiene at Basingstoke care home
Some NHS trusts have confirmed that ‘non-urgent’ procedures, operations and appointments will be re-scheduled.
However, HHFT, which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, has not announced its specific plans for Monday.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are working through any changes needed to support staff to mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
SEE ALSO: Face masks no longer compulsory at Hampshire hospitals
“We would like to reassure patients that if your appointment is affected by this, you will be contacted by either telephone or post. If you don’t hear from us, please continue to attend your appointment as planned.”
Hospital trusts were said to have been advised by NHS England to make their own decisions around appointments based on local staffing levels and transport.
However, NHS England hospitals have been urged to contact all patients who have an appointment scheduled for Monday, irrespective of whether or not it will be postponed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here