JUNIOR doctors across Gloucestershire are staging their second day of strike action.

Doctors are re-joining picket lines outside the county hospitals as part of 18 hours strike action from 8am to 5pm today.

More than 50 junior doctors gathered outside Cheltenham General this morning.

The second mass walk out of both routine and emergency care is in relation to the Government’s proposal to introduce new terms and conditions of employment for junior doctors.


It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the long-running dispute, which has already seen four strikes this year.

This is the first all-out strike action by doctors in the NHS’s history.

On Tuesday 78 per cent of doctors expected at work did not turn up. But many hospitals said contingency plans had worked well.

Hospitals affected include Stroud General, Cirencester Hospital, Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Stroud News and Journal:

The dispute is over a new contract that the government announced in February would be imposed from the summer. This followed the breakdown of talks between the two sides in January.

The government’s plans are part of a push towards improving care at weekends and a seven day NHS – a key Conservative manifesto pledge.

But BMA leaders insist the ‘anti-social’ contract is unsafe for patients because it encourages hospitals to ask staff to work longer shifts and will reduce their take home pay.

A spokesperson from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said all appropriate action was being taken to make sure patient care was not jeopardised.

"Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has robust plans in place to minimise disruption as much as possible and to preserve patient care,” he said.

"Patients with life threatening or serious conditions will continue to be seen at our A&E departments.

“Patients with minor injuries or less serious conditions should access alternative health services where they will often receive care in a more effective and timely manner.

“Visit www.asapglos.nhs.uk or download the ASAP app for more information.

"Patients who have a planned operation, outpatient clinic or procedure on Wednesday 27 of April should attend as usual unless they hear from us directly to advise otherwise."

Emergency protocols have been agreed to allow hospitals to call for junior doctors to return to work if patients are at risk. But they have not been used by any NHS trust yet.