Doctors strikes cause ‘no issues’ across East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Doctors strikes cause ‘no issues’ across East Lancashire

11:38am Friday 22nd June 2012 in Health

A DOCTOR’S strike caused ‘no issues’ across East Lancashire, according to health chiefs.

Worries were raised that yesterday’s national one-day walkout by GPs and hospital doctors over pensions, would result in increased demand on A&E services as patients were denied access to surgeries.

But, according to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, the situation was ‘very much business as normal’.

Emergency departments at the trust’s sites, including the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General and Accrington Victoria were open as usual, as were the majority of outpatient facilities.

A spokesman said: “The emergency department and urgent care centre at Royal Blackburn and the urgent care centre at Burnley General and our minor injuries unit were no busier than normal.

“With regards to outpatient clinic appointments and operations, less than 10 per cent of these have been cancelled.”

GPs were not obliged to state whether they were taking action, but all GP surgeries were kept open.