4-day strike underway by junior doctors
A 96-hour walkout by junior doctors across England has began this morning (Tuesday 11 April), leading to more operations and appointments for patients needing to be rescheduled.
The action will be complicated by the fact it comes immediately after the four-day Easter weekend, which always involves scaled back health services and staff taking leave. Consultants will have to be pulled in to cover junior doctors – who make up nearly half of the medical workforce, including more experienced specialist registrars in hospitals or specialist trainees in GP practices.
Unlike other unions, the BMA will not exempt members from striking if they work in A&E or other critical services but has said it will pull doctors off picket lines on a case-by-case basis if hospitals request help when patient lives are in immediate danger. Doctors would also be immediately freed from striking in the event of a major incident like a terrorist attack.
NHS England is urging the public to still seek help from NHS emergency services during strike dates, for life or limb threatening conditions. GP surgeries and pharmacies will be open on the four days after Easter and people can also use the 111 helpline or online service to seek advice.
