Business as usual for Newham patients despite action by GPs

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Wednesday, June 20, 2012
12:10 PM

Health bosses in Newham have said it will be business as usual for urgent and emergency cases despite doctors plans to take industrial action tomorrow

As many as 100,000 GPs who are members of the British Medical Association are expeced to act over the Government’s controversial pension reforms.

However health bosses at Barts Health NHS Trust have said all urgent or emergency cases will be seen as normal, although some routine appointments and surgery will need to be rescheduled.

Tomorrow the majority of GP surgeries will be open as usual and providing a normal service. The remainder will open with a reduced service, such as fewer routine appointments.

Anyone who needs to see a GP urgently will still be able to do so, by calling to make an appointment in the usual way or by going to the surgery. Patients with pre-booked GP appointments are urged to attend as normal, unless they are told otherwise by the surgery and advised otherwise.

Those with hospital appointments at Barts Health on Thursday or Friday for routine surgery or non-urgent appointments can attend as normal unless they hear otherwise from staff. Those whose appointments are cancelled will be re-scheduled.

Inpatients will continue to be treated in hospital, although some non-urgent elective surgery may be re-scheduled. All urgent operations, procedures and treatment will go ahead as normal.

All A&E and Emergency departments at Whipps Cross, Newham, The Royal London and The London Chest will be running as normal on Thursday.