Junior doctors and consultants throughout Bucks have announced a 72-hour strike, starting from 7am on Monday 2 October up until 7am on Thursday 5 October.
This comes after over 98% of junior doctors voted to extend their strike mandate in their campaign for full pay restoration. Junior doctors have so far staged 22 days of strike action since March of this year.
In a statement released earlier this week, the action anticipated is ‘highly likely to have a significant impact on health services across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.’
In response the NHS said it will only reschedule appointments and procedures where necessary, other appointments will be rebooked immediately, where possible.
It also states to be prioritising resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure priority for patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.
Dr Nick Broughton, interim Chief Executive of the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said: “NHS staff working during the industrial action will be working hard in hospitals, community teams, GP services and pharmacies to keep people safe and respond to their needs. NHS staff are working very hard during a very challenging time – please do treat them with respect. We appreciate people’s understanding and co-operation during this time.”
In the meantime, patients with scheduled appointments should attend as planned, unless directly told otherwise. The online service 111 is also available around the clock to get the right service for any needs.
Image source: bma.org.uk
