Business as usual at QE2 in Welwyn Garden City and other hospitals despite doctors’ strike

HEALTH chiefs in Hertfordshire have insisted it will be business as usual despite a walkout by doctors planned for Thursday.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has ordered its members out in a row over future pension contributions.

But the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust remains confident any disruption will be minimal, and that few medics will swap the consulting room for the picket line on the day.

The Trust’s director of operations, Neil Dardis, said: “The message for our patients is clear – the Trust’s routine services, especially outpatient appointments and admissions for planned surgery, are very unlikely to be affected.

“Where we do find that this is the case, even on the day, we will contact the individual patients concerned.

“We’re urging everyone with an appointment for 21 June, therefore, to attend as normal.”

He added: “With national headlines suggesting mass disruption to hospital and other services caused by doctors taking industrial action on June 21, our patients need to know that it is business as usual at the Lister, QE2, Hertford County and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

“So unless we speak to you first, people needing to come in to us on June 21 should continue to do so.”