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Consultants and locums called into A&E for junior doctors' strike Consultants and locums called into A&E for junior doctors' strike
(4 months later)
Hospitals across England are mounting a huge contingency operation to keep services running as smoothly as possible during the first all-out strikes by junior doctors in the NHS’s history.Hospitals across England are mounting a huge contingency operation to keep services running as smoothly as possible during the first all-out strikes by junior doctors in the NHS’s history.
This week’s walkouts will hit areas of life-or-death care that were unaffected during the four previous strikes, including maternity services, emergency surgery, intensive care, acute internal medicine and A&E.This week’s walkouts will hit areas of life-or-death care that were unaffected during the four previous strikes, including maternity services, emergency surgery, intensive care, acute internal medicine and A&E.
Trusts are drafting consultants – senior doctors – into their emergency departments to cover for the absence of the medics in training who usually handle much of the caseload.Trusts are drafting consultants – senior doctors – into their emergency departments to cover for the absence of the medics in training who usually handle much of the caseload.
Some are bringing in freelance locum consultants to help maintain adequate levels of medical staffing and many are urging the public to stay away from A&E unless it is absolutely necessary. Patients needing A&E care or to see a GP during the stoppages have been warned to expect longer waits because hospitals and family doctor surgeries will be short staffed.Some are bringing in freelance locum consultants to help maintain adequate levels of medical staffing and many are urging the public to stay away from A&E unless it is absolutely necessary. Patients needing A&E care or to see a GP during the stoppages have been warned to expect longer waits because hospitals and family doctor surgeries will be short staffed.
Related: Jeremy Hunt calls on junior doctors to keep emergency cover during strike
All the signs on the eve of the strike were that almost all junior doctors who are due to be on duty during the strike hours of 8am to 5pm each day will join the action. Only a small handful appear likely to cross picket lines and discharge their normal duties. Their absence has forced hospitals to put in place a range of measures to ensure they can cope and that the quality and safety of the care patients receive is not compromised.All the signs on the eve of the strike were that almost all junior doctors who are due to be on duty during the strike hours of 8am to 5pm each day will join the action. Only a small handful appear likely to cross picket lines and discharge their normal duties. Their absence has forced hospitals to put in place a range of measures to ensure they can cope and that the quality and safety of the care patients receive is not compromised.
Margaret Dalziel, the director of clinical operations at Medway NHS foundation trust in Kent, said: “Given the unique and unprecedented nature of these strikes, a number of our medical consultants and senior nursing staff will be deployed to the wards and emergency department during the industrial action.Margaret Dalziel, the director of clinical operations at Medway NHS foundation trust in Kent, said: “Given the unique and unprecedented nature of these strikes, a number of our medical consultants and senior nursing staff will be deployed to the wards and emergency department during the industrial action.
“While it will be all hands on deck, we’re very fortunate to have this level of experience and expertise at our disposal to help deliver safe care to patients.”“While it will be all hands on deck, we’re very fortunate to have this level of experience and expertise at our disposal to help deliver safe care to patients.”
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, warned patients to be ready to wait longer than usual and to seek help elsewhere if they had only a minor ailment.The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, warned patients to be ready to wait longer than usual and to seek help elsewhere if they had only a minor ailment.
“Given that many routine services will be reduced or unavailable during this action, it is probable that A&E departments may be even busier than normal. We would ask patients to consider alternative services such as minor injury units and walk-in centres, which will be less affected”, the RCEM said.“Given that many routine services will be reduced or unavailable during this action, it is probable that A&E departments may be even busier than normal. We would ask patients to consider alternative services such as minor injury units and walk-in centres, which will be less affected”, the RCEM said.
“However, we are confident that we will provide the necessary time critical care for all emergency patients. Anyone who needs emergency care will receive it, but from senior rather than junior doctors.”“However, we are confident that we will provide the necessary time critical care for all emergency patients. Anyone who needs emergency care will receive it, but from senior rather than junior doctors.”
Hospitals across England have had to cancel almost 13,000 planned, non-urgent operations this week as a result of the junior doctors’ escalation of their protests against the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Almost 113,000 people have had their outpatient appointment postponed.Hospitals across England have had to cancel almost 13,000 planned, non-urgent operations this week as a result of the junior doctors’ escalation of their protests against the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Almost 113,000 people have had their outpatient appointment postponed.
Related: Corbyn accuses Tories of undermining NHS so more patients go private
Like most hospitals, Southampton General is redeploying staff to ensure things run smoothly. The trust said: “Consultants will be fulfilling the usual junior doctor duties in these areas and many other areas. Our priority has been to ensure that all the emergency admitting areas, including the emergency department but also the acute oncology unit and acute surgery unit and existing inpatient areas are covered safely.”Like most hospitals, Southampton General is redeploying staff to ensure things run smoothly. The trust said: “Consultants will be fulfilling the usual junior doctor duties in these areas and many other areas. Our priority has been to ensure that all the emergency admitting areas, including the emergency department but also the acute oncology unit and acute surgery unit and existing inpatient areas are covered safely.”
Brighton and Sussex University hospitals NHS trust, which has cancelled 174 operations and 913 outpatient appointments, was one of many trusts urging patients to think hard before accessing NHS care during the strikes. While emergency care would be available, the public should “ensure they use A&E responsibly and use other alternative services if appropriate”, a spokesman said.Brighton and Sussex University hospitals NHS trust, which has cancelled 174 operations and 913 outpatient appointments, was one of many trusts urging patients to think hard before accessing NHS care during the strikes. While emergency care would be available, the public should “ensure they use A&E responsibly and use other alternative services if appropriate”, a spokesman said.
Dr Andrew Collier, a junior doctor and British Medical Association representative in north-west England, said: “Providing hospitals have cancelled their elective work, it can be completely safe.”Dr Andrew Collier, a junior doctor and British Medical Association representative in north-west England, said: “Providing hospitals have cancelled their elective work, it can be completely safe.”
An operations manager at CES Locums, a London-based agency that supplies temporary staff to the NHS, said the dispute had brought unprecedented demand for them to supply stand-in doctors on strike days.An operations manager at CES Locums, a London-based agency that supplies temporary staff to the NHS, said the dispute had brought unprecedented demand for them to supply stand-in doctors on strike days.
“Since the start of November, we’ve had lots of last-minute calls from hospitals who are struggling to fill out shifts. The last-minute shift requests are more expensive for trusts because we charge a higher rate for those”, said the employee, who did not want to be identified.“Since the start of November, we’ve had lots of last-minute calls from hospitals who are struggling to fill out shifts. The last-minute shift requests are more expensive for trusts because we charge a higher rate for those”, said the employee, who did not want to be identified.