Strike Action Begins
Patients have been advised not to attend accident and emergency (A&E) departments as resident doctors commence six days of strike action.
The strike started at 07:00 BST on Tuesday following the breakdown of negotiations between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government.
The industrial action is planned to continue until Monday, with patients in Gloucestershire warned that Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E will operate as a minor injuries unit from 08:00 to 20:00 during this period.
Hospital Operations and Patient Guidance
Mark Pietroni, Director of Safety and Medical Director at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, advised patients to attend scheduled appointments unless explicitly instructed otherwise.
Pay Dispute Background
The government has accepted a recommendation from the independent pay review body to grant all doctors, including resident doctors, a 3.5% pay increase starting in April.
However, the BMA contends that despite resident doctor pay rising by one-third over the past four years, it remains approximately 20% lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.
Context of the Strike
This strike marks the 15th in the ongoing dispute that began in March 2023 and is among the longest to date.
Pietroni stated that the NHS in Gloucestershire had not anticipated this strike but has prepared contingency plans.
"I've been remarkably impressed with the degree of cooperation from senior medical staff,"
"We've had no problem covering the rotas and I'm confident we'll be able to provide safe care and the majority of our elective care during the strike as well."
Impact on Appointments and Procedures
In Gloucestershire, it is expected that between 100 and 150 outpatient appointments and between 10 and 30 operations and procedures will need to be cancelled.
Patients who have had their appointments cancelled would have been informed by phone.
Emergency Department Status
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's emergency department will continue to operate as usual throughout the strike period.
Strike Action Across England
Resident doctors walked out of hospitals across England on Tuesday morning, including Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Perspectives from Resident Doctors
Sam Taylor-Smith, a resident doctor at Bristol Royal Infirmary, expressed willingness to engage with the public to clarify the doctors' position.
"I think there's a part of me that always feels regretful whenever we take strike action, we don't go into the medical profession to do that,"
"Members of the public are understandably frustrated with the situation, as are we, the longevity of it and the complexity of it as well."
