Strike action has been confirmed within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bassetlaw Hospital, part of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH). The industrial action is scheduled to start today at 7:14am on Thursday 27 November 2025 and run until 7:45am on Saturday 29 November 2025. Temporary arrangements will be in place to ensure patient care remains safe and fully supported during the strike. The focus key phrase Bassetlaw Hospital ICU strike captures the nature and location of the action.
The dispute centres on the Trust’s proposal for ICU nurses at Bassetlaw to participate in an eight-week rotation each year at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, within a 12-month cycle. This rotation is intended to maintain essential skills, competencies, and experience. Bassetlaw Hospital treats a smaller population and sees fewer critically ill patients compared with Doncaster, meaning ICU nurses at Bassetlaw have fewer opportunities to maintain hands-on experience with the sickest patients. National guidance and a recent peer review highlight that ICU teams must maintain a minimum level of exposure to critically ill patients to ensure safe and effective care.
Rotation between sites is already established practice within DBTH. Several other clinical teams routinely move between Bassetlaw, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and Montagu Hospital to promote shared learning, resilience, and consistency across the multi-site organisation. Benchmarking against other NHS providers also shows similar or even longer rotation arrangements elsewhere.
DBTH has held months of discussions with staff and trade union representatives to reach an agreement. The Trust has proposed an eight-week rotation pattern, reimbursement for mileage, and flexible arrangements for staff with caring responsibilities. Karen Jessop, Chief Nurse at DBTH, emphasised the safety rationale behind the proposal. “Bassetlaw Hospital sees fewer very sick patients, and a short-term rotation with Doncaster is the safest and most effective way to keep those specialist skills up-to-date,” she said. Jessop also stressed that the offer is practical and supportive, designed to ensure ICU teams continue delivering high-quality care.
During the strike, DBTH urges the public to continue using Bassetlaw Hospital as normal. Patients should attend urgent and emergency care, appointments, and planned services without change. The Trust remains committed to constructive dialogue with staff and to maintaining a sustainable, high-quality critical care service for both Bassetlaw and Doncaster.
