Junior doctors formed a large picket line on Wetherby Road in Harrogate this morning as a 72-hour strike got underway.
Up to 61,000 junior or trainee doctors began a walkout at 7am today in a dispute over pay.
Many cars sounded their horns in support of those taking part in today’s action on Wetherby Road, close to Harrogate District Hospital.
The British Medical Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association have defied calls from Health Secretary Steve Barclay to call off the strike.
They are calling for a 26% pay increase to “reverse the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/9”, according to the BMA.
A statement on Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust‘s website says the strike will impact services to patients. It says:
“Outpatients appointments and planned activity may be affected.
“Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority.
“We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“Nobody should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes, and key services will continue to operate.”
The full statement is here.
Read more:
- New permanent headteacher chosen for St Aidan’s in Harrogate
- Scammers fail to spoil another successful Knaresborough tractor run
Harrogate hospital braced for disruption ahead of junior doctors strike
Harrogate District Hospital has pledged to minimise disruption as junior doctors prepare to stage a 72-hour walkout.
The British Medical Association announced last Friday junior doctors will go on strike from March 13 to 15 in a dispute over pay.
It’s the latest strike action set to hit the hospital after nurses walked out last month. Ambulance workers, teachers, rail workers and postal staff have also gone on strike in the Harrogate district in recent months.
Of the 37,000 votes cast in the BMA industrial ballot on February 20, 98% voted in favour of industrial action.
A spokesperson for the organisation said they had been left with “no option” but to strike after pay negotiations with the health secretary broke down.
A total of 145 junior doctors work at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. However, it is unclear how many will walk out.
The trust said it was working on plans to minimise disruption caused by the industrial action.
It urged people to continue to come forward for emergency care. But, the trust warned some outpatient appointments may be affected.
A spokesperson for HDFT said:
“We are working hard to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal.
“We are currently developing our plans for the propose action and its impact on our services, patients or staff.
“Outpatients appointments and planned activity may be affected. Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority. We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“Nobody should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes, and key services will continue to operate.”
It comes after industrial action by the Royal College of Nursing due to take place this week was suspended after talks reopened with Health Secretary Steve Barclay.
Nurses at Harrogate hospital had planned strike action from today for 72 hours.
Read more:
- Ambulance workers in Harrogate district on strike again
- ‘Shocking’ lack of NHS dentists in Harrogate and Knaresborough raised in Parliament