Cheltenham General Hospital’s accident and emergency department will continue operating as normal following the suspension of a scheduled strike by resident doctors. The facility had been slated to close on Sunday evening and reopen Monday as a limited minor injury and illness unit through Friday. The British Medical Association announced the suspension of the four-day walkout on Saturday after the government presented a revised pay proposal.
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged that the last-minute change would create some service disruptions. While appointments cancelled for Monday could not be reinstated due to the timing of the announcement, hospital leadership indicated efforts were underway to reschedule procedures planned from Tuesday through Thursday. A statement from the trust noted that patients should proceed with scheduled visits unless contacted by the hospital directly.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctor committee, stated the new offer addressed key concerns regarding physician employment levels and pay erosion. He indicated that tens of thousands of resident doctors would participate in a referendum to determine whether the proposal met their requirements. Fletcher warned that if the membership rejected the terms, the BMA would pursue additional escalated actions in the following month.
Health Secretary James Murray characterized the agreement as an opportunity to resolve longstanding disputes. He stated that while the government could not increase compensation for the current year, progress was achieved in other areas including training positions and workplace conditions. The suspended strike would have been the 16th work stoppage in the extended disagreement over physician compensation.
The walkout had been scheduled to begin Monday morning and continue through Friday morning.
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