Junior doctors’ planned industrial action
Published: 25 April 2016
The British Medical Association has given notice for junior doctors to take industrial action, this time from 8am to 5pm on both 26 and 27 April.
I want to assure you that we are working hard to minimise the impact on our patients and that we have full plans in place to ensure that our patients continue to receive safe care.
If you are due to come into Torbay Hospital for a planned appointment or procedure on these days you should continue to do so, unless you are contacted by one of our staff.
All our clinical and support staff are working together to ensure the continued delivery of safe care during this challenging time. Over the strike period, our senior doctors will need to focus their time on emergency care and this is the reason that some procedures or appointments will be affected.
This will be a particularly difficult time for us but even though this strike includes junior doctors withdrawing from all services, including emergency care, our hospitals will be open as usual and offer normal levels of urgent and emergency care. Our senior medical staff have the skills necessary to provide emergency care without the junior doctors so there is no need for concern for people who need emergency treatment during the strike.
If you are unwell during the period of the strike, your GP surgery will be open as usual. Please ask their advice. If you need more urgent care you should still either call 999 or visit our Emergency Department. The minor injury units in community hospitals will be open as normal. If you are due to come into Torbay Hospital for a planned appointment or procedure on these days you should continue to do so, unless you are contacted by one of our staff.
The present industrial action is over a national contract and in no way reflects specific concerns at Torbay Hospital. Within Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust we employ around 260 junior doctors. The term ‘junior doctor’ covers a wide range of staff. Some are just out of medical school whilst others are very skilled and experienced and applying for consultant posts, as they complete their specialist training. We greatly value the contribution these doctors make to patient care and we know that they have the interests of their patients at heart.
We recognise that anyone whose appointment is postponed will experience additional stress and inconvenience. We apologise for this and thank you for your understanding in these difficult circumstances.
Dr Rob Dyer
Medical Director