Warning to patients ahead of next doctors' strike

Patients in greater Lincolnshire are being warned of cancelled appointments when hospital doctors go on strike for six days in a pay dispute. Industrial action by the British Medical Association will start at 07:00 BST on 7 April and will run until 07:00 BST on 13 April. Contingency plans have been put in place by hospital trusts, but some disruption appears inevitable. Sam Peate, from the NHS Humber Health Partnership, which has hospitals in Grimsby and Scunthorpe that will be affected by the strike, said: "Unfortunately, it is unavoidable that some patients will have their appointments and procedures postponed as a result of the action." He said the cancellations would "allow us to prioritise urgent and emergency care and cancer patients. This is regrettable, but necessary to allow us to focus on the most seriously ill/injured of our patients. "Affected patients will be contacted in advance." It will be the 15th walkout by hospital doctors since March 2023. The BMA said it was taking action as the government had not done enough to address pay claims and concerns about job shortages. It argues that resident doctors' pay is 20% lower in real terms than it was in 2008. Health Secret