Don't put off treatment during doctors' strike, NHS tells patients

Don't put off treatment during doctors' strike, NHS tells patientsJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAlex KleidermanBBCThe action will be the 15th strike in a three-year dispute between resident doctors and the government People should not put off seeking the care they need when a six-day strike by resident doctors in England begins on Tuesday, the NHS has said.The 15th walkout in a dispute over pay and job opportunities comes at the end of the long bank holiday weekend and NHS managers say they fear a surge in demand could be "particularly challenging".Officials said senior doctors and resident doctors not involved in the action will be working, and that patients should come forward as normal and attend appointments unless they are contacted.The latest action by resident doctors - previously known as junior doctors - was called after talks to end the three-year long dispute broke down at the end of March.Tens of thousands of doctors will strike between 07:00 BST on Tuesday until just before 07:00 on Monday 13 April. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the strikes were "disappointing" and that the focus was now on protecting patients and staff by minimising disruption to the health service.He maintained that the NHS delivered almost 95% of planned activity during the resident doctor strikes in December.The doctors' union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said the strikes "would bring disruption - despite NHS England's assurances that it can maintain the vast majority of services running for patients during times of industrial action". Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said: "Many senior doctors will be covering for us and whilst that of course benefits patients, we know they are also exhausted and as demoralised as we are."Prof Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care at NHS England, said there were "tried an...