Patients across Kent are being warned to expect serious disruption to NHS services as resident doctors stage a five-day walkout.
The latest round of industrial action will run from 7am tomorrow (Friday) until 7am on Wednesday, July 30, with significant impact expected across hospitals, GP surgeries, mental health services and A&E departments.
Resident doctors – previously known as junior doctors – are qualified doctors in training who work in NHS settings while they complete their postgraduate medical education.
They are taking part in the strike as part of a long-running national dispute over pay and working conditions.
Health bosses in Kent and Medway say they are working hard to maintain emergency and critical care, but have urged people to think carefully before using NHS services during the walkout.
Patients are being asked to use 111.nhs.uk as their first point of contact for urgent health concerns, and to only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies.
Dr Kate Langford, the chief medical officer for NHS Kent and Medway, said: “We anticipate, and are planning for, the action to have significant impact on services provided across all areas of the NHS, including our hospitals, accident and emergency departments, primary care (GP practices) and mental health services.
“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is important patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
The NHS is prioritising emergency treatment, maternity, neonatal care, trauma, and long-waiting or cancer patients.
Other appointments and procedures will only be postponed if necessary, and patients affected will be contacted directly.
Those who do not hear anything should attend their appointments as planned.
NHS Kent and Medway added that phone lines to 111 and 999 are likely to be very busy throughout the industrial action.
Dr Langford added: “We are working hard with our partners to make sure our critical and emergency services are maintained during industrial action and are grateful to colleagues who step in and support the NHS during this time.”
Care will still be available through urgent treatment centres and pharmacies, and mental health crisis services can be accessed through usual channels.
This latest strike is part of a national campaign led by the British Medical Association, which says resident doctors have faced a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008 and are seeking full pay restoration.
The Department for Health says pay for resident doctors has increased by 28.9% across the last three years.
