FOR the first time in NHS history, hospital consultants and junior doctors are walking out on the same day this week - expected to bring some parts of the health service to a standstill.
Across the north west, hospital consultants were striking from 7am today to 7am on Thursday.
Junior doctors will join the consultants on strike from 7am tomorrow to 7am on Saturday, bringing almost all routine care to a grinding halt for 24 hours of joint industrial action, the NHS has warned.
Tomorrow from 7am, both junior doctors and consultants will deliver 'Christmas day levels of staffing' only.
That means only emergency care will be provided, with very limited elective activity - including planned operations like joint replacements, issues causing serious blood loss reserved for those in most urgent need will take place on days of industrial action.
The junior doctor title applies to all grades in the hospital below a consultant. They have been covered by consultants in previous strike action.
But in contrast to strike action among other staff groups, no other clinicians can provide cover for consultants, so any planned care delivered by junior doctors or other healthcare professionals, that requires even remote consultant supervision will need to be rescheduled.
This means a significant amount of planned care will be affected, and many services will have avoided scheduling planned appointments altogether.
This story is from the September 19, 2023 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 19, 2023 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Suspect 'known to victim' as two dead in stabbing
POLICE DESCRIBE DOUBLE KILLING AS 'ISOLATED' AS THEY REASSURE SHOCKED COMMUNITY
Red dawn as boss Amorim takes training
RUBEN Amorim will take training as United head coach for the first time today after his visa to officially start work in the role was approved.
Lollipop man Barry has job he'll stick at
A LOLLIPOP man has become the fifth member of his family to take on the job.
STAR-STUDDED GALA RAISES RECORD SUM TO AID CHILDREN
MOVIE stars joined TV favourites and football legends in Manchester at the city's biggest fundraising ball for another record-breaking night.
Why Reds should Let Leny sink or swim at Ipswich
'THERE IS NO REASON TO EASE YORO INTO ACTION'
Player audit shows need for squad 'surgery' in January
CITY LOOK A PLAYER SHORT IN DEFENCE, MIDFIELD AND ATTACK
I didn't make it at City but now I'm worth £83m
FORMER RIGHT-BACK REECE WABARA SHOWED FLAIR AT ETIHAD ACADEMY BUT EVEN MORE AS A BUSINESSMAN IN FASHION
Rory's World best wins the race again
RORY McIlroy finished the 2024 season in style by adding his third DP World Tour Championship win after winning the sixth Race to Dubai title of his career.
Carsley signs off in style with rout against Ireland
INTERIM boss Lee Carsley signed off in style as England capitalised on Liam Scales' sending off in a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland that sealed promotion back to the Nations League top tier.
Bizet's maiden goal helps Reds end run
CELIN Bizet scored her maiden United goal to help them break their three-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Leicester in the Women's Super League.
