The NHS is urging patients not to delay getting the care they need while resident doctors are leading strike action from Tuesday, with the Health Secretary describing it as “disappointing”.
Thousands of resident doctors in England are to go on a six-day strike after the government took a key part of its proposal off the table.
The Department of Health and Social Care said last week that offering 1,000 additional training places would no longer be “financially or operationally” feasible.
NHS England said hospital teams across the country would be working to minimize disruption to patients during the stay, which is “expected to be particularly challenging” due to the short notice period.
Patients have been advised to attend planned appointments unless they have been contacted to reschedule, and those with life-threatening emergencies should still call 999 or attend A&E.
Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director of critical and perioperative care at NHS England, said: “NHS staff will be doing everything they can to keep patients safe this week and ensure people continue to get the care they need.
“We know this round of industrial action will be difficult, coming straight after the Easter weekend, but patients should come forward as normal and attend any appointments unless they are contacted otherwise.
“The NHS is open to you this week – as always, please call 999 or come to A&E in an emergency, and if you need urgent but not life-threatening help, use 111 online first.”
The British Medical Association is pushing for a pay rise higher than the 3.5% offered to doctors by the government.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said: “It is disappointing for patients and staff alike that the BMA has decided to strike this week despite the agreement we have reached with them that will leave resident doctors on average 35.2% better off than four years ago.
“My focus and that of NHS leaders is now on protecting patients and staff by minimizing disruption to the health service.
“Thanks to the dedication of talented NHS staff, the health service delivered around 95% of planned activity during the December strike, and I want to reassure patients that this time too the NHS will be there for you if you need it. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked hard this week.”
BMA union employees are scheduled to go on strike on Tuesday along with a six-day resident doctors’ strike. The BMA has made its staff its most recent pay offer of 2.75%, which is less than the latest recommendation from resident doctors.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors’ committee, said: “The Health Secretary may be ‘disappointed’, but he is failing to acknowledge that a deal was taking shape until his Government quietly scrapped it, leaving money on the table, then increasing what was left for several years to make it worthwhile.
“The resident doctors are as keen as they are to end the strike, but their government needs to put a proposal on the table that we can accept and that doesn’t change at the last minute.”
