Lincolnshire's Junior Doctors on strike for the next 72 hours
Junior Doctors are to resume strike action after rejecting the latest pay offer, causing major disruptions to hospitals across the county
Junior doctors in England are set to walk out for 72 hours from 7am on Wednesday June 14 in the ongoing dispute over pay.
As a result, senior doctors and nurses will be drafted in to cover urgent and emergency care work usually undertaken by junior doctors, which will lead to other work being postponed.
Rebecca Neno is the Deputy Director of System Delivery for NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.
She says the strike action will cause disruption across Lincolnshire:
"At this time, we look to use our workforce differently; so, you know, junior doctors are any doctor below a consultant. Which is why it's quite impactful. For us, our consultants in Lincolnshire have been phenomenal and have worked really hard to to ensure people still get medical care, and of course we have a lot of other professional groups, like nurses, for example, who are skilled, very highly advanced and in an advanced way.
"So what we're doing is protecting our urgent care pathways, so that's our first priority, so anybody dialling 999, calling for an ambulance, or going to an emergency department for an urgent issue, we'll be able to respond. That's where we will focus on protecting.
"Some individuals accessing that care, might be waiting longer than they normally would on any given day. But they will be seen and we have had to cancel some operations, some outpatients appointments and some other scheduled appointments within the NHS, but we've tried to minimise that.
"So we've spoken to people so they are aware this is happening, and then we will advise them in the 24 or 48 hours beforehand, whether that is the case because clearly we want to minimise that impact."
It comes as the health service raised concerns about the impact of warm weather on urgent and emergency care.
Rebecca continued to say that things are already different this time because of the levels of people they're seeing:
"I understand people's frustrations, but please do be patient, particularly within the heat we're seeing, which is gorgeous for us all on one level, but does mean NHS services tend to be busier in extreme weather.
"We're already seeing that heat causing us to see, just like many other counties, lots of activity. So our emergency departments are very busy already. So, please look after yourself in the heat so you don't require our NHS services."
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust:
"We expect the industrial action to have a significant impact on our workforce, and we have therefore taken the difficult decision to cancel a number of non-urgent appointments and operations. This is to ensure we have the right levels of staff so that we can provide the most urgent care for the people of Lincolnshire.
"We are contacting all our patients whose appointments we need to change and will work with you to re-book your appointments and operations for as soon as possible.
"If you have an appointment over the next few weeks and have not been told this has changed, it is important that you attend as usual.
"Our emergency departments remain open for those who need urgent and emergency care. Our maternity and antenatal services will also be open. "
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“It is extremely disappointing the BMA is going ahead with further strike action. This 72-hour walkout will put patient safety and our efforts to cut waiting lists at risk.
“During recent meetings with representatives of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, we made a fair and reasonable opening offer and were discussing both pay and non-pay issues until they chose to end the talks by announcing new strike dates.
“If the BMA cancels these damaging and disruptive strikes and shows willingness to move significantly from their position, we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.
“People should attend appointments unless told otherwise by the NHS, continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency and use NHS 111 online services for non-urgent health needs.”