A WARRINGTON Hospital boss has said next week’s round of strikes will be the ‘most challenging yet’.

It comes as both junior doctors and hospital consultants will be striking at the same time.

The industrial action, which will hit the Lovely Lane site, will see 96 hours of continuous strikes.

This will start with consultants walking out from 7am on Tuesday to 7am on Thursday while junior doctors will strike from 7am on Wednesday to 7am on Saturday.

Both groups will strike together on Wednesday.

Dr Paul Fitzsimmons, executive medical director for Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, said: “This round of industrial action by hospital consultants and junior doctors will be the most challenging and complex yet as it will include a 24-hour period when both will strike together.”

Dr Fitzsimmons says the trust is working hard to prioritise resources, although it does anticipate the strike action will have a ‘disruptive impact’.

“We are working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma services and ensure that we prioritise patients who have waited longest for elective care and cancer surgery,” he continued.

“We do however anticipate that this coordinated strike action will have a disruptive impact on planned and routine care, but will endeavour to reschedule any postponed appointments or procedures as soon as possible.

“I am extremely grateful to all colleagues working tirelessly under these circumstances to develop plans to ensure that patients remain safe in our care throughout.

“We are advising members of our communities to use health services responsibly and make NHS 111 online their first port of call or visit their local pharmacy or urgent treatment centre. In life threatening emergencies please always call 999.”

For more information, visit September industrial action update :: Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust (whh.nhs.uk)

It isn’t just Warrington Hospital which will be hit by next week’s action as NHS Trusts across the country are expected to be ‘severely hit’.

The public is being advised that significant disruption is highly likely.

Almost half of hospital doctors in the country as junior doctors.

Dr Fiona Lemmens, deputy medical director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “We are now entering the tenth month of industrial action across the NHS and staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care under the circumstances.

“The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage the disruption caused by industrial action, but these strikes will lead to significant service disruption, especially with the consultants and junior doctors striking together on Wednesday.

“Urgent and emergency care services will still be open for those who need them, and in the event of a life or limb-threatening emergency you should always call 999. If however, it’s not an emergency, please use NHS 111 Online to ensure you are signposted to the right service first time.”