Oxfordshire hospitals warn patients of strike disruption

This will be the 10th strike by junior doctors since March 2023

Hospital patients are being warned of disruption ahead of further staff strikes.

Industrial action starting on Saturday is expected to affect appointments and waiting times, Oxfordshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) said.

Junior doctors across England will walk out for five days in an ongoing dispute with the government about pay.

Disruption is also expected before and after the strikes.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents junior doctors, wants a 35% pay increase - a proposal previously rejected by ministers.

Nearly half of NHS doctors are junior doctors - a group that spans medics just out of university through to some who have 10 years or more experience.

OUH, which oversees several hospitals including the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and Horton General Hospital in Banbury, said it would continue to provide emergency care wherever possible.

Cancer, dialysis and other high-priority patients were being prioritised, according to the trust.

It added anyone with a rescheduled appointment would be rebooked to the earliest possible date.

Sara Randall, OUH's chief operating officer, said those with less serious conditions were likely to face long waits or would be asked to find help at a pharmacy, minor injuries unit or GP.

She said: "It is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk."

'Enormous pressure'

Ms Randall previously admitted a junior doctor strike at the beginning of the year had been "very challenging".

The BMA said the pay increase it was calling for would make up for what it said had been below-inflation rises since 2008.

It said it had made "every effort to work with the government in finding a fair solution to this dispute whilst trying to avoid strike action".

The government has responded that it wanted to find a "reasonable solution" and is prepared to "go further" on a pay offer.

Speaking in February, health secretary Victoria Atkins said: "This action called by the BMA Junior Doctor Committee does not signal that they are ready to be reasonable.

"We urged them to put an offer to their members, but they refused.

"Five days of action will put enormous pressure on the NHS and is not in the spirit of constructive dialogue."

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].