Health bosses across Rutland urge us to only visit A&E if needed during junior doctor strikes
Many of our junior doctors are walking out today- for 72 hours- in an on going dispute with Government over pay
Health bosses at hospitals across Rutland are urging us to only visit A&E if needed as junior doctors go on strike from 7am today.
Many of our junior doctors are walking out for 3 days in an on going dispute with Government over pay.
A similar walkout by junior doctors in April saw 196,000 hospital appointments and pre-planned operations rescheduled.
Professor Michael Steiner, who works for the NHS in Rutland, says the local NHS have been planning "for months" to deal with the strikes.
He added: "We very much urge those who have urgent health care problems and need immediate attention to come forward.
"We will be able to provide safe care for those that needed because senior doctors such as consultant GPs will be covering.
"Please think about whether there are alternatives - such as pharmacists, GP practices, using 111"
"It does have an impact on other services because those senior doctors are having to postpone or cancel other activities such as outpatients and theatre lists."
"We would however ask the public to use those services sensibly, as they're likely to be busier.
"Please think about whether there are alternatives - such as pharmacists, GP practices, using 111, as many problems can be handled by those alternative services.