Norfolk & Suffolk: Doctors' Strike Update

21st June 2012, 16:27

Heart's found out that nearly 50 operations have had be cancelled and re-scheduled because of the doctors' strike.

Thousands of doctors across the country have taken industrial action today as they are angry about government changes to their pensions. 
In Suffolk, Ipswich Hospital says 23 operations have to be re-scheduled.

A spokesman for West Suffolk Hospital said: "As a result of today's action, we have postponed 11 of the 45 operations planned for the day, 13 of the 44 planned outpatient clinics and seven of 46 planned ultrasound scans. We have already contacted all patients whose appointments need to be rescheduled."

In Norfolk, the James Paget in Gorleston has had no operations cancelled but three outpatient clinics didn't run, whilst at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital 15 operations have been re-scheduled - with 80 out patients appointments being re-scheduled.

However, all our hospitals say the impact has been minimal on services and patients were told in advance about re-scheduling. They added that they made contingency plans in advance to keep disruption as low as possible. 

Anyone who is due to come to the hospital or a doctors surgery today and has not heard anything different should attend their appointments as normal.  

Related Articles: 

http://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/suffolk-mp-questions-doctor-strike/

http://www.heart.co.uk/norfolk/news/local/doctors-strike/