Doctors’ strike hits surgery and clinics

Professor Matthew Makin

PATIENTS due to attend the Royal Oldham Hospital for non-urgent surgery or an outpatient clinic during this week’s junior doctors strike are being contacted by the Trust to rearrange their appointment.

The national strike action will see a full withdrawal of labour by junior doctors between 8am and 5pm tomorrow and Wednesday, the first industrial action of its kind since the NHS was created.

It is the fifth strike by junior doctors in protest to a new work contract set to be imposed by the Government later this year.

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs The Royal Oldham, North Manchester General, Fairfield Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, says it has been forced to cancel appointments to ensure that adequate staffing is in place to cover urgent care services and inpatient wards.

Professor Matthew Makin, medical director at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is an unprecedented situation for the NHS. Because junior doctors are not providing emergency care during these two strike days unfortunately we have had to contact patients to cancel more non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments than we did for the last strike days.

“Where this is the case we have contacted our patients concerned directly to reschedule their appointment.

“They will not go to the back of the queue and we will ensure that they are seen as quickly as possible. There is no need for patients to contact the Trust as we will contact you directly.

“It is important we try and minimise disruption to our patients and their families as best we can.”

He added that the Trust has “robust plans” in place to ensure the smooth running of services on the two strike days.

Highly experienced consultants, specialist and staff grade doctors, nurse specialists and Allied Health Professionals will support urgent care services and have a greater presence on wards to cover for those junior doctors on strike.

Steps have also been taken to ensure care at A&E, urgent care, emergency surgery and maternity services will not be affected.

Professor Makin added: “We are working hard to ensure that our plans are in place to protect the safety and welfare of our patients which remains our top priority.

“We are taking steps to ensure our A&E departments and urgent care services operate as usual, but we are asking the public to think carefully before turning up to our A&Es if their condition is not urgent.

“The public can help us to ensure that the NHS continues to operate as effectively as possible during this busy period especially in the lead up to and during the May bank holiday weekend as well.

“We anticipate our emergency departments will be extremely busy this week, more so than usual.”

The NHS Choices website has a dedicated strike page which details what alternative health services are available to patients during the strike - www.nhs.uk/strike.

Throughout the strike any important announcements will be put on the Pennine Acute Trust website (www.pat.nhs.uk) and on Twitter (@PennineAcuteNHS) if required.