‘Minimal upset’ in doctors’ strike (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

‘Minimal upset’ in doctors’ strike

10:09pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Bradford By Claire Lomax

Around ten per cent of hospital doctors in the district took part in the British Medical Association’s industrial action yesterday and the vast majority of GP practices were open for business as usual, causing minimal disruption to patients.

Doctors were participating in their first day of action in 37 years in protest over the Government’s controversial pension reforms.

Bradford and Airedale has 81 GP practices and in the end, just 11 took industrial action.

A spokesman for NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds said: “Across Bradford and Airedale, the vast majority of GP practices were open for business as usual. Eleven practices took industrial action and a further 21 were affected by some, but not all, of their GPs taking action.

“The situation locally has been quiet, with all practices offering urgent and emergency appointments.

“Patients seem to have been well informed about the action and any potential disruption to services, and the options available to them to get help and advice for non-urgent health problems if their practice was affected.

“Out-of-hours GP services operated as normal and local hospital trusts ensured patients who had non urgent pre-arranged outpatient appointments or non-urgent planned operations postponed were notified in advance.”

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, had to reschedule 21 operations and 160 outpatient appointments. A spokesman for the trust said A&E activity had been normal.

Chris Miles, director of operations at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said the trust had worked with doctors and BMA representatives to ensure patient safety, care and welfare, saying: “Around ten per cent of our doctors are taking part in today’s industrial action but of those the majority are continuing to undertake urgent and emergency care.”

A spokesman for Bradford District Care Trust, which runs community health services and mental health services at sites across the district, including the Airedale Centre for Mental Health, Daisy Bank and Lynfield Mount Hospital, said services had not been affected by the BMA day of action.

In Leeds, very “few doctors” declared they would be taking part, a spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals said.