100 Gloucestershire doctors expected to go on strike
AROUND 100 family doctors in Gloucestershire are expected to take industrial action and some operations will be postponed this week.
British Medical Association members last month backed action nationally over pension reforms and they are set to make their point on Thursday, when all non-urgent work will be postponed.
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NHS Gloucestershire says just under 30 per cent of county GPs are expected to take part.
Some hospital doctors will join them but the trust, which runs Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals, could not say how many.
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It did confirm some routine outpatient appointments and operations planned for Thursday had been rescheduled to "minimise disruption".
It will be the first industrial action taken by doctors for nearly 40 years.
Consultant surgeon Charlie Chan voted for industrial action, but will be working at Cheltenham General Hospital on Thursday as he has a list of cancer patients to operate on.
He said: "In line with the promise the BMA made that no one would suffer, if they need urgent or emergency care I will be operating on my cancer patients."
He said some surgeons, such as those working in orthopaedics, have informed the trust they will not do routine operations, but will be in the hospital on the day.
This could impact on hip replacements, routine hernia surgery and varicose vein operations, but Mr Chan stressed that emergency surgery will go ahead.
He added: "Emergency patients may get a better service on that day. The doctors who are taking action will not be performing routine duties, but they will be willing and available to look after the emergency ones."
Health bosses moved to reassure the public ahead of the industrial action.
Debra Elliott, director of commissioning development for NHS Gloucestershire, said: "Patient care will always be our top priority and we want to assure the public that we are working closely with the GPs in the county, and with the local hospitals, to ensure medical cover will continue to be available for our patients."
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says that in order to minimise disruption on the day, it has decided to reschedule some routine outpatient appointments and operations planned for Thursday and will contact affected patients.
Comments
by Hackingtackle
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 12:18AM
“"Dr's along with teachers and the rest of the feather bedded puplic service workers, are a blight on the country" - by cheltenham20
Yeah, might be time for even more of them to leave the country for better jobs abroad. That'll sort the UK right out.”
by Michael_AH
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 7:13PM
“I'm sure that's a photo of a stethoscope, not a doctor”
by nikonman2010
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 6:21PM
“What annoys me more than anything is when you do finally get a appointment you sit in the waiting room and its full of Polish or other "overseas" visitors plus when you intially start the long procedure to get a appointment the receptionist thinks shes pionnering surgeon in open heart surgery rather than doing her job within her "platform"
One GP we had took retirement early because of failing eyesight then went to work for the plod in a medical?criminal investagation capacity ................plus of course a nice big fat pension etc”
by cheltenham20
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 4:34PM
“Dr's along with teachers and the rest of the feather bedded puplic service workers, are a blight on the country,, totally overpaid, underworked, and still they want more.. well i would say let them want, time for these people to come into the real world. Doctors on £2000 a week, when they retire at 55 they get a £200,000+ severance pay, and £1000+ a week pension... These worker (so called) want to emulate the wonderful english Bankers...think Fred Goodwin....remember they walk amongst us,...and they are increasing..”
by G_day86
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 9:01AM
“Good plan Doctors, alienate the people more. That's gonna work!!! I have to argue with my GP's receptionist to get a doctors appointment. Apparantly peeing blood isnt worthy of a doctor, and I could only have an appointment in 2 weeks time.”