Cheltenham General Hospital’s accident and emergency department will continue normal operations after the British Medical Association suspended a scheduled resident doctor walkout. The A&E had been scheduled to close on Sunday evening and operate as a minor injury and illness unit through Friday, but the strike suspension means those plans are no longer in effect.
The BMA announced the suspension of the four-day strike after receiving a new pay proposal from the government. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctor committee, stated that the organization sought a fair offer addressing job availability for doctors and pay erosion concerns. He indicated that tens of thousands of frontline doctors would vote in a referendum to determine whether the offer meets their requirements, and warned that further escalated action could occur next month if members reject the proposal.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust indicated that the late timing of the strike suspension creates some service disruption. The trust stated it was unable to reinstate cancelled appointments scheduled for Monday, though health officials were working to reschedule services from Tuesday through Thursday. Patients were advised to attend appointments as planned unless contacted directly by the hospital.
Health Secretary James Murray characterized the new offer as providing “a chance to draw a line under the damaging disputes of recent years.” Murray noted that the country cannot afford to increase the pay offer for the current year but stated the government made progress in other areas including training places and working conditions. The suspended strike would have been the 16th walkout in the extended dispute over physician compensation.
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