A&E to remain open as doctors' strike called off

The planned closure of an A&E department will not go ahead after a doctor's strike was called off.

Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E was due to close on Sunday at 20:00 BST and reopen on Monday as a minor injury and illness unit until Friday.

But on Saturday, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced that the four-day resident doctor strike would be suspended after a new pay offer from the government.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it was too late to reinstate cancelled appointments on Monday, but health chiefs were working to reorganise those scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday.

The NHS trust said in a statement: "While this late change means some disruption to services is unavoidable, we are working quickly to restore services wherever possible."

Patients are advised to attend as planned unless contacted directly.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctor committee, said: "All we have asked for is a fair offer that secures enough jobs to tackle the madness of doctor unemployment and take steps to address the erosion of our pay.

"Tens of thousands of frontline doctors will now vote in a referendum on whether this offer is sufficient."

"Doctors will now have their say. If they say no to this offer we will have to continue our plans for further escalated action across next month."

Health Secretary James Murray said the new offer was a "chance to draw a line under the damaging disputes of recent years".

He added: "The country simply cannot afford to increase the pay offer for this year. I am pleased that the BMA have recognised this, which has allowed us to make progress in other areas, such as training places and working conditions."

The walkout had been due to run from 07:00 on Monday until 06:59 on Friday. It would have been the 16th in the long-running dispute over pay.

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