Junior doctors' strike: Berkshire to prioritise urgent care

The industrial action by junior doctors will be the longest consecutive strike in NHS history

Emergency care will be prioritised in Berkshire during the UK's longest-ever NHS strike, health bosses have said.

Junior doctors in England are planning a six-day walk out from 07:00 GMT on Wednesday in a dispute over pay.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which manages many of east Berkshire's health services, has warned of "widespread disruption".

Patients in need of urgent care have been advised to use medical services as normal.

The industrial action will be the longest consecutive strike in NHS history, and comes at one of the busiest times for patient care.

Dr Nick Broughton, interim chief executive of the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said demand was already high, with increasing rates of Covid and seasonal norovirus.

He added that safe staffing levels for emergencies, critical care, maternity, trauma and neonatal care would be their "absolute priority".

People are asked to only call 999 or attend A&E for serious emergencies.

And anyone displaying symptoms of flu or Covid, or who has been in contact with someone testing positive, is urged to stay away from hospitals unless it is an emergency.

But patients who have a scheduled appointment should attend as planned unless they hear about changes from the NHS directly.

The trust's chief medical officer Dr Timothy Ho said it needs "the public to continue to support us and use the right health service to meet their needs".

General practice, community pharmacies and dentistry will remain open on the strike days.

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