'Significant disruption' warning ahead of strikes

NHS bosses are warning patients that hospitals will be impacted when resident doctors go on strike again next week.

Last month, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced the action as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.

University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust said teams are working to minimise the impact of the industrial action.

During these strikes, all other NHS staff, including consultants, GPs and other specialist doctors, will still be working.

UHB said patients with any planned appointments will be told if these are not going ahead, while anyone needing emergency care is urged to seek help through the usual channels.

They said: "This will inevitably cause disruption during the strike period, and is likely to have a longer term impact on our services due to the additional resources required to keep services going safely".

Industrial action was taken three times by residents doctors, the new name for junior doctors, last year in July, October and December and once in April this year.

The strike next week is planned to take place from 07:00 BST on 15 June to 06:59 BST on 19 June.

The Trust said during this latest action, they were trying to minimise the impact on planned care.

"Patients with appointments booked on strike days will be contacted if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action."

If they haven't been contacted, the appointment should be attended as planned.

"It's important that patients do not put off seeking urgent care, or not attend planned appointments unless they have been told otherwise."

For anyone needing urgent care, they "should use NHS111 online or through the NHS App to be assessed and directed to the right care for them."

"If you do not have internet access, then the free, 24/7 111 phone line is also available."

"When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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