Friarsgate Practice suspends routine GP appointments due to 'expected surge in workload'
A major GP surgery in Winchester has suspended routine appointments this week due to strike action by junior doctors.
The Friarsgate Practice, which is the largest in the city, notified patients by text at the weekend.
The move, it said, was due to an expected 'surge in workload' during the industrial action.
NHS bosses have warned of disruption across the health service due to the industrial action, which was called by the BMA after "15 years of pay erosion".
More than 350,000 appointments across the country are thought to have been cancelled.
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Patients have been urged to use all available services during the action, such as minor injuries, urgent care centres and GP surgeries.
People who are unwell should continue to seek medical advice, the NHS said.
The message from the Friarsgate Practice in full:
"Due to the planned junior doctor strike action the week of the 10th April the practice has taken the decision to suspend routine appointments that week.
"This is due to the expected surge in workload to cover this action. Any routine appointments already booked will go ahead.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Dr Vaughan Lewis, NHS England and NHS Improvement Medical Director for the South East, said: “There is no doubt that the days and week ahead will be extremely challenging for NHS services, with the long bank holiday weekend followed by four days of industrial action by junior doctors.
“The strikes come at a time when many staff will be on leave due to school holidays and the Bank Holiday weekend, which we know is always a challenging time for the NHS, and the impact of this action is expected to be significant.
“However as always, we will prioritise emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma, and patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery. We will only cancel appointments where absolutely necessary and will reschedule immediately where possible."
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