Our junior doctors play a key role in helping us provide world class care to all our patients. Following the announcement of a two day strike by the British Medical Association, we have put a number of measures in place to ensure that patient safety is not compromised during the industrial action due to take place between 8am and 5pm on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 April. 

While we are working hard to ensure that cancellations are kept to a minimum, the nature of this industrial action means we have had to cancel more appointments than with previous strikes. Patients whose treatment is affected will have been contacted by telephone to inform them their appointment has been cancelled; we will follow this up to re book an alternative appointment in next 2-3 weeks.

We have put plans in place to enable us to deliver safe services for patients during the strike action. The emergency departments (accident and emergency units and urgent care centres) in all three of our hospitals will be open; we are covering most roles in A&E with consultants and other senior clinical staff but are also bringing in other specialists from areas such as paediatrics, acute medicine and surgery as all elective work has been cancelled for the duration of the strike.

As always, we encourage our patients to use NHS services appropriately. For more information about choosing the right NHS service for you, please read about the NHS Choose Well campaign.

Further updates will be provided via our website and social media channels.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts: rf.mediaenquiries@nhs.net or call 020 7317 7740

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.