Cheltenham General Hospital’s A&E department will continue operating after a scheduled closure was averted by the suspension of planned strike action by resident doctors.
The A&E had been scheduled to close on Sunday evening and transition to a minor injury and illness unit beginning Monday, with the temporary closure extending through Friday. However, the British Medical Association announced on Saturday that a four-day walkout would be suspended after the government presented a revised pay proposal.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged that the late change would result in some service disruption. The trust stated that cancelled appointments on Monday could not be reinstated due to timing constraints, but officials indicated they were working to reorganize appointments scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday. A statement from the trust noted that while some disruption was unavoidable given the timing of the strike’s suspension, efforts were underway to restore services as quickly as possible. Patients were advised to proceed with their planned visits unless they received direct contact from the hospital.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctor committee, indicated that the decision to suspend the strike represented progress but noted that thousands of resident doctors would now vote on whether the offer met their demands. He stated that the offer addressed concerns about doctor unemployment and pay erosion, but warned that if physicians rejected it in a referendum, further escalated action would be planned for the following month.
Health Secretary James Murray characterized the new offer as an opportunity to resolve longstanding disputes. Murray stated that the country could not afford to increase pay for the current year but said progress had been made in areas including training positions and working conditions. The suspended walkout would have marked the 16th strike in the ongoing dispute over physician compensation.
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