Junior doctors are entering a second day of strike action as the dispute over pay shows no sign of being resolved.
The NHS has said emergency and urgent care will be prioritised during the strikes and that “almost all” routine care will be affected.
Sara Randall, Chief Operating Officer at OUH, said the industrial action is going to be ‘challenging’ for the OUH but they are ‘working hard to ensure the safety of patients and the wellbeing of staff’.
“This action comes at a time when the NHS is typically under a lot of additional pressure with winter illnesses,” she said.
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"Our urgent and emergency care services are highly likely to be affected in terms of waiting times.
“Our Emergency Department colleagues are working exceptionally hard and have to prioritise patients who genuinely need emergency care.”
People are urged to seek help elsewhere if their condition is less series such as the local pharmacy, minor injuries unit, the GP or contact NHS 111.
The 72-hour England-wide walkout began at 7am on December 20 and will run until the same time on Saturday.
Hospital leaders have described the walkouts as their “worst fears realised” as they grapple with a rising number of people needing help with winter viruses, particularly norovirus.
🚨 Junior doctors - including those at OUH - are taking industrial action from 7am on 20 December to 7am on 23 December 2023, and from 7am on 3 January to 7am on 9 January 2024 🚨
— OUH (@OUHospitals) December 18, 2023
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🔗 https://t.co/Mjded02mfq pic.twitter.com/xyJOURkKVD
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the strike earlier this month after talks between junior doctors and the Government broke down.
It will be followed by a six-day walkout from January 3, the longest in NHS history.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said on Wednesday said she wanted to reach a “fair and reasonable” settlement with doctors in training, but added: “I cannot do that if they’re on the picket line, rather than in hospitals looking after patients.”
She also raised concerns about consultants “picking up the slack” for their striking junior colleagues, who make up almost half of the medical workforce.
The BMA’s junior doctors committee has challenged the Government to make an offer so strikes could be cancelled.
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It said the offer from the Government, an average 3% rise from January – on top of the average of nearly 9% recommended by the independent pay review body in April, was not enough to make up for below-inflation pay rises since 2008.
It has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.
Conciliation service Acas said it is “ready to help” resolve the dispute.
Consultant doctors from the BMA in England have reached a deal with the Government, with members currently voting whether or not to accept the deal.
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