Hospital bosses in Newcastle and around the country fear next week's junior doctor strikes are likely to have "extensive impact" on patient care.
The chief executives of the ten "Shelford Group" hospital trusts - including Dame Jackie Daniel of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust which runs the Freeman and RVI - have warned this will be "on a scale significantly beyond" the disruption seen during previous NHS industrial action in recent months. That fear has been expressed in an open letter which urges the Government and unions to "do all that they can" and seek common ground.
The senior hospital figures hope this would lead to the strike action - set to last 96 hours from April 11 - suspended. The British Medical Association announced the second round of strikes following the failure of talks between the union and Government last month. Previously thousands of doctors took to the picket lines for three days in March over the dispute.
