Junior strikes expected to cause minimal impact to Oxford

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which provides physical, mental health and social care across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, has said it expects services to remain largely unaffected thanks to established continuity plans.

During the strike, care will continue to be delivered through strong multi-disciplinary team (MDT) working, including consultants, specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and wider clinical teams.

Dr Karl Marlowe, chief medical officer at Oxford Health, said: “We want to reassure patients and the public that services will continue during this period of industrial action.

“Patients should attend appointments as planned unless contacted directly by the Trust.

“Patient safety remains our top priority, and our multidisciplinary teams with medical input will continue to work together to provide high-quality care.

“We are grateful to all our colleagues at Oxford Health who will be supporting patients during this time.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced industrial action will take place from 7am on Tuesday, April 7, until 6.59am on Monday, April 13.

Nationally, the NHS is asking the public to support services during the strike by checking on vulnerable relatives and neighbours, ensuring they have enough prescription medication, and carrying a basic first aid kit when travelling.

For urgent medical advice, people are encouraged to contact NHS 111.

In a life-threatening emergency, they should dial 999.