Tameside Hospital is warning that strike action by junior doctors will inevitably impact on its services - despite having in place what the Trust terms are robust plans.

Patients are advised to expect longer wait times for treatment and possible postponement of appointments. 

The hospital's A&E will be open but again people are urged only to attend in the case of absolute emergencies - and also to expect longer wait times.

The industrial action is for 72 hours, starting at 7am on Monday (13 March) until 7am on Thursday (16 March). 

You can read more information here: https://www.tamesideandglossopicft.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/information-regarding-forthcoming-strike-action-13-16-march-2023 

Junior doctors at the Ashton-based hospital are among thousands across England who have taken the strike action over pay and conditions. 

The walkout by British Medical Association members is the biggest by doctors in the history of the NHS. 

They are asking for a 35 per cent pay rise, which the union says makes "perfect sense". The BMA says doctor roles have seen pay cut by 26 per cent since 2008, once inflation is taken into account. 

But the Health Secretary Steve Barclay says the union's demands are "completely unaffordable". 

It begins a week of walkouts, with one of the biggest days of industrial action for years planned for Budget day on Wednesday (15 March). 

Junior doctors make up more than 40 per cent of the medical workforce, the term covers everyone who has just graduated to those who have years of frontline experience.