Worried hospital bosses have pleaded with the public to support the NHS over the Easter weekend and next week's planned junior doctors strikes - which they fear "will have an inevitable and noticeable impact" on patient care.
A joint-statement from the region's "provider collaborative" - made up of hospital trusts, mental health trusts and the ambulance service - said that junior doctors were "vital and much valued" and to be missing them next week would be a "deep worry". Senior NHS leaders in the region fear that the strike taking place during the Easter school holidays means consultants have been less available to cover for striking colleagues.
As a result, the public has been warned there are likely to be "knock on consequences" for patients and staff next week. The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) which has also urged members of the public to prepare for the next week, stock up their medicine cabinets and take care about using the right NHS services for their problem.
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The hospital bosses' said: "As hospital providers we are very concerned. The prospect of not having junior doctors available for 96 hours at such a critical time after Easter will have an inevitable and noticeable impact on the quality of care we can provide.
“Junior doctors are a vital and much valued part of the NHS workforce and to have such a big part of our teams missing is a deep worry for us all. The pressure on services is already at peak with no let-up in demand. It is incumbent on us to be very clear with the public about the scale of the impact and knock on consequences for patients and for our staff.
"We will need people to support us by taking the right action if they need help from the NHS during this unprecedented time and to be mindful of the disruption to services.”
The British Medical Association's junior doctor's committee announced the 96-hour strike action - which will run from Tuesday through to the weekend - after the Government refused to budge on pay. The union wants pay for juniors to be restored to equivalent levels seen in 2008.
The NHS trusts said "extensive planning" was underway to minimise risk, but that patients were likely to face longer waits in A&E and for admission into hospital. Disruption to planned appointments is also expected.
The hospital chiefs added: "“We want to thank all staff, including our junior doctor colleagues, who continue to make a phenomenal effort day-in and day-out to manage the ongoing safe delivery of patient care at a time of unprecedented and relentless demand on the NHS.
"We do not underestimate the toll this pressure takes on everyone and we know how committed all staff are to doing their very best for the people we look after."
Meanwhile, Dr Neil O'Brien, executive medical director for the ICB, added: "We know the Easter holiday period is always a very busy time for the NHS, and teams will be there to help those that urgently need treatment and care in life threating situations.
"However, with high demand for services and significantly reduced staffing levels we are expecting services to be disrupted and the public can expect lengthy delays. We really do need everyone's support through this busy and challenging time."
Patients are reminded that if they're seriously injured and their life is endangered, they should still call 999 or head to A&E. If they feel in need of medical advice that can't wait for a GP appointment, patients are asked to use the NHS 111 service by visiting www.111.nhs.uk or calling 111. People with planned hospital appointments are asked to attend as normal unless they hear otherwise.
Dr O'Brien also urged people to plan ahead by stocking up with medical essentials like paracetamol and plasters and repeated prescriptions. He added It was important to take care over the bank holiday including when gardening or doing DIY, and to try to reduce alcohol intake.
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