More than 150 patient operations and appointments had to be cancelled at Leighton Hospital as a result of the junior doctors strike, it has emerged.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the industrial action forced them to re-schedule 18 non-urgent operations.
And they also had to cancel and rearrange 133 non-urgent Outpatients appointments.
Thirty-eight junior doctors at Leighton, which serves Nantwich, Crewe and South Cheshire, took part in the industrial action which ended at 8am today (January 13).
A spokesperson for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told Nantwichnews: “Patient care and safety is our top priority and we have robust plans in place to ensure that as few patients as possible are affected by industrial action.
“The Trust was able to provide emergency and urgent services during the period of industrial action and the vast majority of routine operations also continued to run through a consultant-led service.
“Any patients whose appointments or operations were affected by the industrial action are being rescheduled to be seen as soon as possible.
“The Trust asks for the public’s understanding during this time and encourages those with a non-urgent condition to make use of other healthcare options available, such as visiting their Pharmacist or GP, calling NHS 111 or using the NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk).”
Attempts are under way to avert a second doctors’ strike, a 48-hour walkout beginning on January 26.
More than 4,000 operations were postponed nationally amid the dispute.
NHS England said about 10,000 junior doctors had reported for duty out of 26,000 scheduled to work the day shift on Tuesday.
The action came after talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government failed to reach agreement on a proposed new contract for junior doctors.
The BMA, which is concerned about pay for weekend working, career progression and safeguards to protect doctors from being overworked, said the strike had sent a “clear message” to the government.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the walkout as “completely unnecessary” and urged a return to the negotiating table.
Andrew, how ill informed you are. Foundation Doctors starting salary is 22k. After 9 years a specialist registrar earns between 30 and 47k per year. This is after a training schedule that would make most people fun scared. If you are going to criticise people try a little research and get your fact right. Don’t just agree with what the daily mail tells you. Why do you think reporters call their articles ‘ stories’
Oh yes poor underpaid doctors on £100,000 a year. I dont know how they make ends meet. Its so good of them to work for such a pittance out of the goodness of their hearts – all they care about is helping people.