Doctors' Strike
21 June 2012, 06:00
Members of the public are being asked to help the NHS on Thursday, when some doctors may be taking industrial action.
The British Medical Association is calling on its members to only provide emergency or urgent care on Thursday June 21st, in response to changes to the NHS pension scheme.
The number of staff who might take action is not yet known.
Dave Kerry, Head of Emergency Planning for NHS Norfolk and Waveney said: “The NHS has plans in place to ensure patient safety and quality of care is not compromised during periods of disruption”
“Early indications are that most services will continue as normal. However it is common sense that everyone needs to think carefully about how they use NHS services on Thursday and lighten the load on the NHS.”
In Suffolk, 22 out of 68 GP practices will be affected by industrial action, although in seven of these practices not all GPs are participating.
People who have appointments already booked should assume they are still proceeding unless told otherwise by their GP or hospital.
A spokesman for the Norfolk and Waveney Local Medical Committee, which represents GP Practices, said: "Individual practices will decide whether they undertake routine appointments. Patient safety continues to be doctors' priority, regardless of whether nor not they are taking industrial action, and all affected practices will have taken steps to ensure this is not compromised."
The Out of Hours GP services for Norfolk and for Great Yarmouth and Waveney are expected to operate as usual.
A very small number of clinics or routine operations will be re-scheduled.
Dave Kerry From NHS Norfolk & Waveney Speaks To Heart's Holly Jones