While the junior doctors’ strike takes place next week on the 10 February the Trust is working closely with trade union representatives and the junior doctors to ensure that the quality and safety of care that we provide to patients is protected.

We are putting the appropriate measures in place to cover the absence of the junior doctors from wards and departments, including:

• we expect to run all urgent and emergency care services (including A&E and maternity)
• consultants and other non-trainee doctors will cover the usual duties of our junior doctors on our hospital wards to ensure the safety of inpatients
• we have rescheduled some non-urgent operations and outpatient clinic appointments which are due to take place during the industrial action – we apologise for any inconvenience caused to patients due to circumstances outside our control (this is a national strike)
• every effort is being made to give any patients affected as much notice as possible of their cancellation

Angela Gallagher, the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, has stated that the safety of our patients is the Trust’s priority at all times in making decisions about which services we are able to run on 10 February and the subsequent days of industrial action.

She added: “We will monitor events very closely during the day to ensure that we have the appropriate cover provided in all areas and we are very grateful for the support and collaborative working from all groups of staff in preparation for this day”