London hospitals have warned patients of severe disruption likely to be caused ahead of junior doctors' strikes due to take place this weekend (February 24-25). A fresh wave of strikes will be hitting the NHS and is likely to cause chaos for people needing emergency treatment.
St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group has warned of severe disruption when the walkouts start on Saturday. It comes after staff faced one of their busiest days of the winter just days earlier, on Monday February 19.
More than 1,000 people turned up at the three hospitals' emergency departments during the day, which is more than 200 more than usual. The hospital Group normally sees around 800 people during a typical Monday, which is already a busier day than the rest of the week.
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But in four of the past five Mondays, attendance at A&Es at the hospitals has recorded more than 1,000 people in total.
Dr Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: “These strikes are going to have a significant impact on our hospitals, and with each round of action it becomes even more challenging. Unfortunately we’ve had to reschedule some appointments and procedures, and if you come to one of our emergency departments when it’s less urgent then you will be waiting longer to be seen.
“That said, it’s really important that you continue to come forward for care when it is an emergency, and you should still attend any appointment that you have unless you have been told it has been rescheduled.”
Junior doctors have already been on strike once this year, in their longest protest against pay and working conditions yet. Junior doctors went on strike for six days at the beginning of January, with the British Medical Association arguing that junior doctors' real wages have been cut by almost a quarter since 2008.
A junior doctor told the PA news agency during the January strikes: “If we don’t make a stand now then I personally believe that safety will get worse further down the line, because there won’t be any doctors left.”
The strikes are due to take place from Saturday February 24 until Wednesday February 28.
When people need urgent medical help, NHS 111 online should be the first port of call. This is a 24/7 service that can direct people where to go for care. Pharmacies, meanwhile, provide advice on minor illnesses such as colds, coughs, and earache.
It’s important that people continue to call 999 or go to an emergency department when it is life-threatening.
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