Patients are being warned the upcoming junior doctors’ strike may affect their appointments at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Peterborough City Hospital.  

The 10th round of junior doctor strike action will begin at 7am tomorrow (February 24) with a five-day walkout.  

It will end at 11:59pm on Wednesday (February 28).  

The North West Anglia NHS Foundation trust which runs the Huntingdon and Peterborough hospitals says patients will be contacted directly if their appointments are affected.  

Patients who are not contacted are advised to still attend their appointments as planned.  

The Hunts Post: Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon.Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon. (Image: Newsquest)Michelle Cady, Chief Operating Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our main priority during the period of action is to ensure that we can continue to run our hospitals and care for our patients as quickly and as safely as possible.  

“We hope to keep any disruption to a minimum and maintain as many clinics as we can, but this will be an extremely challenging time.   

“We will contact patients who have an appointment during the strike period if their appointment needs to be rescheduled.  

“We appreciate how disappointing this will be for anyone waiting for treatment or investigations and we are very sorry to have to postpone any appointment.  

“We will make sure it is rescheduled as soon as possible. Patients who are not contacted in advance should attend their appointment as planned.”   

The Hunts Post: Michelle Cady, the Chief Operating Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.Michelle Cady, the Chief Operating Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. (Image: North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust)The Trust’s says its Emergency and Urgent Care services have remained busy throughout the winter period and will remain open during this period of industrial action.   

Michelle continued: “You can help us by only attending A&E if you require emergency or very urgent care, and using alternative NHS services, such as pharmacies and GP surgeries, for everything other than life and limb threatening situations.   

“If you need medical help for something that isn’t life threatening or a serious injury, you can also call NHS 111 or use their online referral tool.”