Dorset hospitals prioritise urgent care during junior doctors strike
We're still being urged to attend appointments, unless we have been told otherwise
Last updated 27th Jun 2024
NHS bosses in Dorset are warning of "major disruption" because of an ongoing heatwave and a strike.
A yellow health alert is covering all of the South West.
That's coupled with junior doctors walking out for the 11th time over pay.
Dorset County Hospital have taken to social media to reassure patients.
They say: "Our junior doctors are vital for patient care and the running of our hospital services.
"During their industrial action, some medically-led activity will be postponed to ensure we can provide safe emergency and inpatient care."
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital have put our similar messages.
More strike action could take place in the summer if the next government does not move forward negotiations with junior doctors in a "timely manner".
Health leaders have implored the next government and junior doctors to "reset industrial relationships and prevent any more walkouts", saying that strikes "can't become business as usual for the NHS".
Junior doctors in England have said their pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% increase.
Senior BMA members have conceded the union had not pushed enough over the last 15 years, saying they had pinned their hopes on the independent pay review body, which sets the pay of doctors.
The latest walkout marks the 11th strike by junior doctors in England since their dispute began some 20 months ago.
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: "We can't go on like this. Strikes can't become 'business as usual' for the NHS and patients.
"It's vital that the next government and junior doctors reset industrial relationships and prevent any more walkouts.
"Preparing for strikes, keeping patients safe throughout them and having to rebook thousands of treatments takes an enormous amount of time.
"Failure to resolve the dispute means more disruption for patients and staff, with more operations, scans and other care postponed on top of the 1.5 million already hit by industrial action across the NHS."
"It is difficult to comprehend how either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party can deliver on their manifesto commitment to recover NHS performance over the next parliament without first ending the dispute."
Junior doctors make up half of the medical workforce and their last walkout in February led to 91,048 appointments, procedures and operations being cancelled.
The strike started at 7am on June 27 and ends on July 2, two days before voters go to the polls.
NHS leaders have said people should continue to use 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 - on the NHS app, online, or by phone - for other health concerns.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: "Last year, the Government accepted the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies in full, which saw junior doctors receive a pay rise of between 8.1% and 10.3%. This was the most generous workforce settlement in the private sector.
"There is Cabinet Office guidance determining what is appropriate Government behaviour during the pre-election period. In line with the guidance, it would not be appropriate for Government to make a pay offer. The BMA know this but have refused to call off the strikes.
"The deals brokered with the consultant and SAS doctors committees show that we will always act in good faith to end disputes. Before the election was called, we had entered into negotiations with the junior doctors' committee overseen by an external mediator.
"We commit to getting back into the negotiating room immediately after the election and seek to reach a similar resolution with junior doctors."
The UK falls behind Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Germany when it comes to health spending.