Strikes are set to disrupt operations and appointments at Scarborough Hospital

The multi-day strike by NHS consultants and junior doctors next week is expected to impact scheduled appointments and operations across the trust, which runs Scarborough, Bridlington and York hospitals.

NHS consultants will go on strike on Tuesday September 19, but staffing for Christmas Day will be ensured and junior doctors will work as usual.

For the first time there will also be a joint day of action on Wednesday, September 20th, when young doctors and senior doctors will go on strike to reduce staffing levels on Christmas Day.

This will be followed by a full strike by junior doctors on Thursday 21st September and Friday 22nd September.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it had postponed some operations and appointments during the strike period and would “rearrange these as a priority”.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a spokesperson for the trust said: “We recognize that this situation is frustrating for the patients affected and we apologize for any inconvenience.”

“Anyone who has an appointment should continue to attend as scheduled unless they have been contacted to reschedule.

“Urgent and emergency care remains our priority and patients can continue to access care from our emergency departments, maternity services and critical inpatient services. It’s important that people don’t put off seeking care.”

NHS junior doctors in England have said they are striking because “their pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008” and that they want to “agree with the government on a mechanism to address future falls in the cost of living and inflation.” impede”. “.

Earlier this summer, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government’s offer to give doctors a 6 percent pay rise was final and that “no amount of strike action” would change his mind.

The joint strike day with health bosses will include consultants who have warned that the senior doctors’ strike could lead to even greater delays than the junior doctors’ strike.

The British Medical Association said that “analysis of NHS and government data shows how consultant salaries have ‘stagnated’ in the 14 years to 2022/23”.

Further joint days of action by specialists and junior doctors are planned for next month, with three-day work stoppages taking place between October 2nd and 4th.

Speaking to the LDRS, the NHS Trust spokesperson added: “It is even more important that people choose services carefully during this period so that care is available to the patients who need it most.”

“This includes using online 111 as the first point of contact for healthcare needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.”