Junior doctors to strike for 48 hours
Junior doctors have started a48 hour strike in response to the Government’s decision to impose a new contract on the profession
The industrial action, between 8am today (Wednesday 9 March) and 8am on Friday 11 March, will mean disruption to services at hospitals across the country.
Commenting on the strike action, RD&E Medical Director Mr Adrian Harris said: “Our priority, as always, is to maintain the safety and quality of care for our patients. We are pleased that our senior medical staff have - once again – demonstrated significant flexibility so that they can provide additional support during this period of industrial action.
“In the days leading up to the industrial action this week, we have regrettably postponed 423 outpatient appointments, 46 procedures and 15 inpatient operations. Some of these advance postponements are due to bed capacity pressures we experience during the winter and early spring period while others are taken as a prudent measure to ensure we maintain safe staffing and bed levels in and around the period of industrial action.
“Postponements are carried out under senior clinical supervision and only when it is safe to do so, and we are endeavouring to rebook procedures and operations at the point of postponement. Where this is not possible, patients are being rebooked as quickly as possible and within the 28-day waiting time target. Nonetheless, we apologise for any postponements we have to make because we know the distress and inconvenience this can cause.
“We are proud of our talented and highly skilled junior doctor workforce and the Trust respects their right to take industrial action. The periods of strike action will be very challenging for the hospital and its staff but the public can trust the RD&E to respond to the challenges positively. We look forward to the British Medical Association and the Government reaching an agreed solution to this dispute as soon as possible.”
“The hospital, particularly its Emergency Department, remains extremely busy at this time of year and the public can help us manage this high demand by attending our Emergency Department only when they have a very urgent or emergency condition. Treatment, advice and support for a wide range of non-emergency conditions is also available at GP surgeries, pharmacies and the NHS 111 phone and online service.”
