Junior doctors back on strike across Merseyside
The action runs from 7am on Saturday 24 February until midnight on Wednesday 28 February
Junior doctors are back on strike across Merseyside as the pay row with the government continues.
They are walking out from 7am on Saturday 24 February until midnight on Wednesday 28 February.
The NHS says it's prioritising urgent and emergency care as this action is set to impact the most routine care.
New national figures show there were an average of 2,355 more patients in hospital each day last week (97,416) than the same period in 2023 (95,061).
95.3% of adult general and acute beds were occupied in the week ending 18 February, despite the NHS having over 2,500 more of these beds compared to the same week last year.
The NHS has also released new figures showing that more flu patients are in hospital every day, with NHS call handlers also dealing with an increase in calls.
It's the tenth walkout by junior doctors since March 2023 and follows the six-day strike in January, which was the longest in NHS history.
The British Medical Association is calling for pay restoration and improved conditions.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is urging people to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs during this period of action.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside's Medical Director, Professor Rowan Pritchard-Jones, said:
"Health and care services across Cheshire and Merseyside are still experiencing winter pressures.
"The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption.
"You should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. B
"But if you need urgent medical help and you're not sure where to go, use NHS 111 online to get assessed and directed to the right place for you."