Patients warned some services will be affected by today’s junior’s doctors’ strike

Emergency services will not be affected by the walk-out.

The offer was rejected and during a debate in the House of Commons today, Labour MP Justin Madders asked Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt whether he had personally blocked an agreement.

BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana said: “The Government’s entrenched position in refusing to recognise Saturday working as unsocial hours, together with its continued threat to impose a contract so fiercely resisted by junior doctors across England, leaves us with no alternative but to continue with industrial action”.

“Our priority is always to ensure that our patients remain safe and are well cared for, and our extensive plans for the 24-hour period from Wednesday are created to do this”.

Leighton Hospital bosses say patients should attend as normal – unless they have already been contacted to say their appointment has been postponed. “The latest advice and information is on our website and social media”.

Professor Kevin Hardy, executive medical director at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said “Some of the planned services our hospitals provide will be affected and we are contacting the patients concerned”.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said that it was unaware of how many junior doctors would be participating in the strike, stating that the doctors do not have to notify them in advance of the industrial action.

“The NHS is experiencing its customary heavy seasonal demand on services and our trust is no exception so we would appeal to people to remember that A&E is for patients whose condition is urgent or life-threatening”.