BMA Junior Doctor Industrial Action
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that junior doctors in England will take industrial action beginning with a full 72-hour stoppage of work next week. Continuous strike action – day and night – will begin at 06.59am on Monday 13 March and continue through to 06.59am on Thursday 16 March.
At Milton Keynes University Hospital
There is no change to urgent and emergency care. If your condition is serious or life threatening, call 999 or go to the Emergency Department. If you need medical help on these days but it’s not serious or life-threatening, please contact your GP, visit your local pharmacist, call 111 or consult www.nhs.uk.
Due to the expected increased pressures on the hospital during this time, waiting times may be longer than usual and the majority of elective (planned) care appointments (including operations, procedures and outpatient clinics) have been postponed and rearranged for a different date.
If you have a planned operation, procedure, or outpatient appointment on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday we will contact you if it needs to be rearranged. If you have not been contacted, please attend as planned.
Full details of the impact at MKUH will be shared on our website and across our social media channels.
Frequently asked questions
What is happening?
Trade unions representing NHS staff are in dispute with the Government over the 2022/2023 pay award. A number of the unions have balloted their NHS members to take part in industrial action. This is the first round of action by the BMA and continuous strike action is expected to take place on Monday 13 March to Thursday 16 March and will include junior doctors from Milton Keynes University Hospital.
The NHS wants to see a resolution as soon as possible but pay is a matter for the Government and the trade unions.
What if I need urgent or emergency care?
Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online or call NHS 111 to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999 or attending A&E.
What if I have an appointment on strike days?
Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned, unless we have contacted you to reschedule. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as normal. If your appointment has been postponed and you were due to come into hospital using patient transport ambulance services, please let them know.
Will emergency care be affected on strike days?
Emergency care will continue to be available across all parts of the country. It is really important that in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill, or their life is at risk, patients continue to come forward as normal.
Will GP services be affected on strike days?
GP services will be running as normal on strike days. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments.
When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?
We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This will be via phone call. Following the initial cancellation, we will be in contact with you to offer an alternative date for your appointment.
Is there anything I should do now?
No. We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?
No, if we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. If you are not sure if your appointment is going ahead, please contact the clinic / department in your letter.
How long will services be impacted?
This is a continuous 72-hour strike which means industrial action will start on Monday 13 March and last until Thursday 16 March and last over the course of those days and nights.
Last Modified: 4:55pm 10/03/2023
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