Milton Keynes Hospital says contingency plans in place to minimise impact of strike by resident doctors
Milton Keynes University Hospital Trust has confirmed it has contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of an upcoming five-day strike.
Resident doctors, known up until last year as junior doctors, are walking out across the country from 7am on Friday November 14 until 6.59am on Wednesday November 19.
The British Medical Association called the walkout over what it calls pay erosion and insufficient specialty training plans.
Despite the industrial action happening during what is already a busy winter period Milton Keynes University Hospital chief executive Joe Harrison said the hospital would have proven contingency measures in place to mitigate the impact of the strikes.
“Milton Keynes University Hospital will do our utmost to minimise disruption for patients during the strike action,” Harrison said.
“We have proven contingency measures in place to ensure continuity of safe and quality care, and a hard-working team of people whose priority is to keep hospital services working well.
“It is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, particularly for serious and life-threatening illnesses.
“For minor illnesses and injuries, pharmacists and GPs are there to help.
“The industrial action is happening in the busy winter period which may mean waiting times in our Emergency Department are longer.
“I am appealing to local people to use this service wisely and to show some support for our staff who will be doing their very best to treat large numbers of patients in priority order.”
The hospital has warned that the impact to planned appointments may result in some postponements, but that patients should continue to attend as normal unless contacted and told otherwise.
Anyone with health concerns during the period of industrial action is urged to contact NHS 111 for assessment and direction to the most appropriate local service.