Junior doctor strikes: South East NHS bosses issue patient advice

Junior doctors have once again walked out today over disputes about pay, patient safety and working conditions. The strike will last until December 23.

NHS bosses in the South East have issued advice on how to use services during the strikes and across the festive period.

Andrea Lewis, regional chief nurse for the South East, said: “This week, ahead of Christmas and one of the busiest of times for the NHS, we will see junior doctors striking for a period of three days.

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“More than 150,000 appointments across the South East have been rescheduled over the past year around strikes and this latest action will cause further, unavoidable widespread disruption.

“The NHS is working hard to ensure that there is adequate staffing to provide urgent and life-saving care, and I would urge you to help us by continuing to choose our services appropriately, and to take simple steps to help ensure care is available to those who need it most.”

Patients have been advised to use the 111 phone service as their first port of call for non-emergency care in a bid to take the pressure off NHS services.

Bosses also told residents to only use 999 and emergency departments only in an emergency.

Staff will also walk out from January 3 to January 9, the longest single strike in the history of the service by junior doctors.

In the coming three weeks only two days will be unaffected by strike action or the festive period.