In preparation for the upcoming industrial action by Resident Doctors, NHS Gloucestershire has announced temporary service changes to safeguard patient safety and maintain emergency care.
From Friday, November 14 at 7am through Wednesday, November 19 at 7am, emergency care services will be consolidated at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester. This move allows NHS staff available during the strike to focus resources on critical emergency care.
The public is strongly advised to attend the Emergency Department or call 999 only if they face life-threatening or severe health issues. Community Minor Injury and Illness Units, as well as GP practices, will continue normal operations throughout the strike period. For non-urgent medical advice, residents should use the NHS 111 service online or by phone.
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Cheltenham General Hospital’s Emergency Department will reopen at 8am on Wednesday, November 19. Patients with planned operations, outpatient appointments, or procedures scheduled during the strike are expected to attend unless otherwise notified. However, some appointments may be rescheduled to ensure safe staffing.
Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Gloucestershire, acknowledged the challenges the strike imposes but emphasized the NHS’s commitment to prioritizing patients with the most urgent needs. “We are incredibly grateful to the staff working throughout this period to keep essential services running,” he said. Dr Raghuram called on the public to help maintain clear emergency services by wisely choosing when to seek urgent care.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has appealed to resident doctors to reconsider their strike plans. He highlighted that resident doctors have already received an average pay increase of 28.9%, the highest across the public sector, and expressed that further pay hikes are not financially viable at this time. Streeting proposed creating 1,000 new training positions and eliminating certain exam fees to improve doctors’ conditions instead.
NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey urged trust leaders to maintain core services during the strike, advising that appointment rescheduling should be minimized to protect patient safety. He stressed the need to focus on emergency care, maternity services, patient discharges, and preserving as much elective care as possible.
In response, BMA resident doctors’ committee chair Dr Jack Fletcher stated no new government offer has emerged to prevent the strike. He criticized the proposed pay policies and job prospects for doctors, affirming plans to proceed with the industrial action unless progress is made.
The NHS urges residents to carefully consider their healthcare options during the strike and use available services appropriately to ensure those in critical need receive timely care.