Cheltenham General Hospital’s accident and emergency department will continue operating after the British Medical Association suspended a scheduled strike by resident doctors. The A&E had been slated to close Sunday evening and reopen Monday as a minor injury and illness unit through Friday, but the walkout was called off following a revised pay proposal from the government.
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged that the late decision to cancel the closure would create some service disruption. Cancelled appointments on Monday could not be reinstated in time, though the trust stated it was working to reschedule patients with appointments from Tuesday through Thursday. The public was advised to keep scheduled appointments unless directly notified otherwise.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctor committee, characterized the suspension as allowing the membership to evaluate whether the new offer adequately addresses concerns about doctor unemployment and pay erosion. He indicated that resident physicians would vote in a referendum on the proposal, with the potential for further industrial action next month if members reject the offer.
Health Secretary James Murray framed the revised proposal as an opportunity to resolve long-standing disputes. He noted that the government could not increase the pay offer for the current year but stated progress had been made in other areas including training places and working conditions. The strike would have marked the 16th action in the extended pay dispute, scheduled to run from early Monday morning through late Friday.
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