'Attend hospital appointments unless told otherwise' as doctors strikes continue in Northampton

Resident doctors first walked out at 7am on Friday November 14, with action due to continue until 7am on Wednesday November 19.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) – including at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) – are striking over jobs and pay.

BMA resident doctors committee chair Dr Jack Fletcher said: “Today’s strikes have not come out of the blue. We have been telling the Government for months that without an offer that addresses both the absurd situation of doctors facing unemployment while people struggle to get appointments, and cuts to pay that fail to value the doctors we do have, we would be forced to take to the picket lines once again. We have been clear that we are willing to work with ministers to reach a solution on both of these fronts. Unfortunately it is the failure of the Government to bring anything nearly enough to the table that has got us to where we are today.

“What has been offered so far still leaves thousands of resident doctors without a role this year, and the Government seems determined to cut pay even further next year.

“Any resident doctor would also challenge the narrative being pushed by Government and managers that the NHS is somehow turning a corner. We have doctors sitting on bins because there aren’t enough chairs, patients routinely being seen in corridors, A&E waits through the roof and rota gaps are an accepted norm. How on earth can doctors provide high-quality care in such conditions? We cannot let the Government and managers gaslight the public into putting the blame for these system-wide failures at the doors of hardworking doctors who are standing up for their profession and the future of the health service.”

While action is taking place, patients at NGH are being told to continue to attend planned appointments, unless they are notified otherwise.

Posts on NGH’s social media said: “If you need help in emergency you can still access our emergency departments. However we would urge our local community to access other NHS services where this is appropriate.

“If you are unsure what service to use please access NHS 111.

“Please continue attend any other routine hospital appointments as planned unless we notify you otherwise directly.”

The BMA added that the strikes can be stopped with a “decent” offer on pay and jobs from the Government.