Why are junior doctors striking?

Both sides in the bitter dispute have stressed urgent care will not be affected by the strike, but patients are being urged to only attend A&E wards if they have a genuine emergency.

In the past Roberts has said: “I’ve never worked professionally as a doctor so my opinion is useless but you’ve got to feel for junior doctors over the proposed new contract!”

Sewa Singh Medical Director at the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust reassured patients that staff would work hard to avoid changes to services, but said junior doctors would only be dealing with emergencies.

“Patients will be contacted directly by the hospital to reschedule any cancelled appointments”. Many patients with minor ailments like a sprain, a cut or a sore throat could seek treatment elsewhere – for example their pharmacist, GP or a minor injuries unit.

Junior doctors are due to provide emergency care only – like on a Bank Holiday – between 8am on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday.

It’s the first of three strikes planned between now and February 10, following a 98 percent vote by doctors in favor of action late previous year.

He said affected patients had been written to and called.

Ministers offered an 11% pay rise in basic pay a year ago – but doctors claim that reductions in out-of-hours pay will leave them with less money overall.

They have a starting salary of £22,636 and are paid extra for working anti-social hours a the weekend.

“Choosing the right service for your needs helps us to focus our attention on the most seriously unwell patients and can also save you time”.

A trust spokesman said: “Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust would like to reassure our patients that we expect to provide as full a service as we possibly can during this period and that patient care and safety is the driver behind all of our decisions”.

To see your doctor: Some GPs may be trainee doctors who could be involved in the strike but you will have been notified if this applies to you.

Pickets have been organised outside every major hospital in the county as junior doctors prepare for a mass walk-out today.

Two further days of strike action could follow, with a 48-hour stoppage and the provision of emergency care only from 8am on Tuesday, January 26.

Across England, around 4,000 operations and procedures have been cancelled, with thousands more routine appointments expected to be postponed in a dispute with the Government over a new contract.

6- Have they gone on strike before?

In an emergency: Dial 999 as emergency services will continue to work throughout the strike.