'Doctors' strike won't affect Latitude' - NHS boss

Nick Hulme, who is in charge of the trust that runs Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, says contingency plans are in place while residents doctors are on strike

A hospital trust has said it has plans in place to deal with any emergencies during an imminent doctors' strike, including medical incidents at a major music festival.

Latitude Festival has opened its gates at Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk, with tens of thousands of fans expected to be in attendance.

The event coincides with the start of a five-day strike by the British Medical Association on Friday in an attempt to improve working conditions for resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors.

Nick Hulme, the chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust which runs Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals, said the trust could deal with any disruption, including at Latitude.

"We always have our contingency planning... hopefully, there isn't any major issues at Latitude or elsewhere in the county," he said.

"If that does happen then we do have a mechanism where we can call even striking resident doctors back into the hospital if we believe there is a significant clinical risk to patients."

Mr Hulme added: "Always think twice before attending A&E, dial 111 just to see if you do need to come into A&E, or if there is an alternative way for you to get your care.

"We can assure that patients will be safe and if you haven't heard from us, do turn up for your operation, your out-patient appointment, or for your diagnostic test, because we will be going ahead."

West Suffolk Foundation Trust is asking patients to read all texts and emails from it and to return any missed phone calls as it works to minimise "strike disruption"

Nicola Cottington, the chief operating officer at West Suffolk Foundation Trust, said teams were "working really hard to minimise" strike disruption and they were "still open for business".

"It does cause disruption, any strike means that our teams have to work incredibly hard trying to cover services," she added.

"We don't know in advance exactly how many resident doctors will be taking strike action, so it means we have to be very responsive in terms of our planning."

Latitude has a variety of on-site medical services, including a team of medics and a landing point for air ambulances.