BBC News
PA MediaA five-day strike involving resident doctors will result in some patients in East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire having appointments postponed, NHS bosses said.
Members of the British Medical Association (BMA), who work in hospitals in Hull, Goole, Cottingham, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, were expected to join others across England in the walkout, beginning at 07:00 BST on Friday.
A spokesperson for the NHS Humber Health Partnership said patients affected by the action would be contacted.
BMA leader Dr Tom Dolphin said: “We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary.”
Dr Kate Wood, group chief medical officer for the health partnership, which oversees the running of the five hospitals, said: “We appreciate that there will be some patients who are seeing their appointments with us postponed, perhaps not for the first time.
“We know just how frustrating this is and we’d like to extend our apologies to anyone affected.
“Stepping down some routine care is regrettable but necessary as it allows us to focus on the most seriously ill/injured of our patients, allowing us to keep urgent, emergency care and cancer care services running.”
Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, were given a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two years and are demanding “pay restoration”.
But the BMA said wages are still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008.
More than half of the BMA resident doctor members voted in the ballot with 90% voting in favour of fresh action over pay.
Dr Dolphin said: “We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary and of course if people have emergencies or need urgent care they should still present to the hospital or their GP as usual, as they always would.
“Striking is something that doctors don’t want to have to do.”
Deadlock
He said the BMA was still open to further discussions about resolving the dispute.
The strike is going ahead after talks between the government and BMA broke down on Tuesday.
The two sides discussed extra financial support for resident doctors to cover exam fees and equipment as well as faster career progression.
The BMA asked for a scheme to help write off student loans, but the government rejected this.
Ahead of the talks, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would not revisit this year’s pay award.
The NHS trust said patients can help themselves and others during the dispute by:
- Ordering repeat prescriptions ahead of time so they do not run out
- Avoiding hospital if suffering Norovirus-type symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting
- Avoiding hospital with cold or flu-like symptoms
- Keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home
- Using the NHS emergency prescription service if a regular medication runs out
- Getting to know nearby NHS services, like walk-in and urgent treatment centres, which can offer help both in and out of hours.
The industrial action is due to end on Wednesday at 07:00 BST.
GP surgeries and pharmacies will remain open during the strike, NHS bosses said.
They added patients should attend appointments as scheduled if they have not been contacted.