‘Prepared’ for strike

All emergency and urgent care services will continue to be provided at hospitals and it is anticipated that most other hospital services will be unaffected by the industrial action.

Any patients whose hospital care is affected by the strike will be contacted in advance if there are any changes to their scheduled appointments.

GP surgeries will remain open across Lincolnshire with minimal disruption to services and patients with urgent care needs will continue to be treated.

NHS Lincolnshire chief executive John McIvor said the trust is working hard to minimise any impact to patient care as a result of the planned strike action.

“All NHS Trusts and key partners are working together to ensure that emergency and urgent care is unaffected,” he said.

“If you find that you require health care on that day you can receive treatment for common illnesses and injuries with medicine from your local pharmacy.”

He added: “Remember, A&E stands for Accident and Emergency, not Anything and Everything, if you’re ill and you’re unsure what to do, call NHS 111 free from landlines and mobiles and trained staff will advise you.”

Doctors are striking in a dispute over pensions.

The doctors voted for industrial action for the first time since 1975 to protest against the government’s planned shake-up of their pensions.

The BMA said separate ballots of six branches of its 130,000-strong membership, including GPs and hospital consultants, had produced an overall majority in favour of action, on a 50 per cent turnout.