People advised against visiting A&E during junior doctor strikes

People in Lincolnshire were advised not to visit A&E unless necessary as hospitals face an unprecedented phase of walkouts.

Hospitals in the region are spread thin as junior doctors take to the streets asking for a pay rise in line with inflation.

In preparation for the 4-day strike action, Lincolnshire NHS trusts postponed 27 planned procedures and approximately 1000 outpatient appointments.

Despite cancellations, Rebecca Neno, NHS Integrated Care Board Deputy Director for System Delivery for Lincolnshire, assured other care services remained open as usual.

She said: “There’s lots of alternatives for individuals with minor injuries and illnesses to access treatment rather than arriving at emergency departments which are very busy.

“All of our GP practices in Lincolnshire are open and running as normal so they are not affected by the junior doctor strikes.”

On the picket line outside Lincoln County Hospital, union representative Doctor Becky Bates said: “It’s unfortunate that some patients are having their appointments cancelled this week but what I would say is we see this as a long-term health of our NHS.

“If we don’t have doctors in training now, we won’t have a functional health service in 20-, 30- or 40-years’ time.”

Dr Bates added: “We’re asking for a restauration of our pay to 2008 levels. We’ve lost 26% in real terms since then and we don’t believe a doctor is worth a quarter less than they were over a decade ago.

Disruption to services should remain until Saturday. In the meantime, patients were advised to call 111 for minor illnesses, and to travel to A&E for serious cases.