Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E department is about to get a little less 'E' and a lot more 'MIIU' as it transitions to a daytime-only Minor Injury and Illness Unit while resident doctors go on strike.
The department will shutter its doors at 20:00 BST on Sunday, reopening Monday as a MIIU, before reverting back to a full A&E on Friday. This four-day strike action is the latest episode in the ongoing saga between resident doctors and the government over pay.
Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram, chief clinical leadership and delivery officer at NHS Gloucestershire, warned, "The strike is likely to pose significant challenges to the local NHS, particularly hospital services." He added, "We are sorry that patients might experience some disruption" - which is a bit like apologizing for a pothole while driving off a cliff.
NHS Gloucestershire advises patients with planned operations, clinics, or procedures to attend hospital as usual unless told otherwise. Patient visiting arrangements are expected to remain as normal, so at least families can still gather to worry together.
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's A&E will operate normal hours during the strike, but the public has been urged to only attend if their condition is life-threatening or serious. Translation: If you can still complain about it on social media, stay home.
Resident doctors have received a collective 33% pay rise over the last four years, but their union argues they are being paid a fifth less than they were in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. The government insists the current pay is fair, and Health Secretary James Murray described the union's demands as "unrealistic, unaffordable and unsustainable" - which is government-speak for 'we'd rather not.'