Industrial action by junior doctors is taking place until Thursday (29 February) at NHS organisations across the country, including in Stockport.

Doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) began action on Saturday 24 February, which will last until 11.59pm on Wednesday 28 February 2024.

The strike is part of a long-running pay dispute with the UK Government, as BMA doctors call for a pay rise.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi - co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors committee - said:  "Junior doctors are trained to deliver high quality care, but that care is impossible to give when they are exhausted, demoralised, and working in an NHS that is chronically underfunded and understaffed."

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, meanwhile, told the BBC: "No-one should underestimate the impact these strikes have on our NHS. So again, I urge the BMA to call off their strikes."

Junior doctors pictured striking earlier in the year (Image - SWNS)

Stockport NHS Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital, advised residents to "continue to access healthcare in the most appropriate way". A number of services will be affected, including the need to reschedule outpatient and surgical appointments.

Patients who have appointments with any services during the period of industrial action are asked to attend as normal unless otherwise advised.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "If a condition is not life, limb or sight-threatening, please use NHS 111 online in the first instance or alternative services such as your GP, pharmacy or local urgent treatment centre.

However, essential life, limb, and sight-saving services will continue.

The spokesperson added: "As with previous periods of industrial action, the trust is reassuring the public that robust plans are in place to protect emergency services and to safely care for patients who are in urgent need."

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