Home / Health / Doctors Strike: Cheltenham A&E Closes for 5 Days
Doctors Strike: Cheltenham A&E Closes for 5 Days
16 Dec
Summary
- Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E unit will close for five days due to doctor strikes.
- Resident doctors are striking over a pay dispute, stating pay is a fifth lower than in 2008.
- Emergency care patients will need to travel 35 minutes to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
Cheltenham General Hospital's A&E department will temporarily close for five days from Tuesday evening, as resident doctors participate in a nationwide strike. The emergency department will be converted into a minor injury unit during this period, with full closure from Tuesday 20:00 GMT until Monday 08:00.
Patients requiring emergency care will need to seek treatment at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, located approximately 35 minutes away. Hospital officials are coordinating with health partners to ensure continuous access to quality care for those with the highest needs during the strike.
The strike action is part of a broader pay dispute, with the British Medical Association highlighting that doctors' pay has diminished by a fifth since 2008, adjusted for inflation. While the government points to recent pay increases, the union seeks acknowledgment of long-term pay erosion.
