NHS services in Gloucestershire are bracing themselves for another period of disruption as junior doctors begin their latest round of strikes. The impact will be felt particularly in Accident and Emergency departments, where temporary changes have been implemented to mitigate the effects of the action. From Sunday evening until Friday morning, Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E will operate as a Minor Injury and Illness Unit (MIIU) during daylight hours only, ceasing its usual overnight provision.
This arrangement means that from 20:00 BST on Sunday, the full A&E service at Cheltenham General will close temporarily, reopening on Monday morning as an MIIU. Normal overnight services are expected to resume on Friday when the department reverts back to standard operating hours. Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram, Chief Clinical Leadership and Delivery Officer at NHS Gloucestershire, acknowledged the significant challenges posed by the strike, particularly for local hospital services. He expressed regret for any disruption this might cause to patients.
Given these changes, patients are urged only to attend A&E if their condition is life-threatening or serious. Meanwhile, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's A&E will continue to operate as normal. However, it's essential for everyone to exercise discretion and use emergency services wisely during this period, ensuring that the most critical cases receive immediate attention.
For those with scheduled appointments, such as planned operations, clinics, or procedures, NHS Gloucestershire advises attending as usual unless explicitly informed otherwise. Patient visiting arrangements are not anticipated to be affected by the strike. The dispute centres on a pay issue between junior doctors and the government, with Health Secretary James Murray describing the union's demands as 'unrealistic, unaffordable and unsustainable', while the government insists current pay is fair.
The service adjustments in Gloucestershire reflect the broader impact of industrial action across various healthcare professions within the NHS over recent months. As part of ongoing efforts to manage demand effectively, the NHS continues to encourage the public to use NHS 111 online or by phone for non-urgent medical needs, reserving 999 for genuine emergencies only.