Bolton's A&E department is feeling the pressure as junior doctors stage the first of their six day walk out today.

Royal Bolton Hospital has warned patients it is currently experiencing extremely high levels of activity and is ‘extremely busy’.

This is longest strike in NHS history – in a major escalation in the dispute between unions and the Government over pay.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust states the current waiting time to be seen is more than four hours.

Higher priority patients will be seen first but the trust said no matter how busy the department gets they are here for the most seriously ill and injured patients.

A spokesperson for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “No matter how busy our Emergency Department is, the most seriously ill and injured patients will always be seen immediately.

“If you choose to visit us and do not need urgent or emergency treatment, you will be safely supported to access an alternative service.

“Choosing the most appropriate place for care allows our ambulance and emergency department staff to concentrate on people whose lives are at risk and can potentially save you a long wait.”

The service deals with a number of life-threatening emergencies such as severe chest pains, difficulty breathing, bleeding you can’t stop, possible broken bones, loss of consciousness, stroke symptoms, severe tummy pain or headache and a child who is very unwell.

Junior doctors will not return to the ward until January 9.

Junior doctors in England including Bolton have begun the longest strike in NHS history in a major escalation in the dispute between unions and the Government over pay.

Medics in training from the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) are striking.

Almost all pre-planned (elective) hospital services will be affected by strikes as the NHS shifts all of its focus to urgent and emergency care.

In summer 2023, the Government gave junior doctors in England an average rise of 8.8 per cent, but medics said the increase was not enough to address pay erosion doctors had seen over the last 15 years.

It seemed as though the dispute may come to a close when junior doctors and the Government entered talks in late 2023.

But after five weeks of intense negotiations, the talks broke down and the BMA announced strike dates for December and January.

Health officials have stressed that people should still seek help if they are unwell.

Dr Francis Andrews, consultant in emergency medicine at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “If you have severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or if you lose your speech suddenly, become weak in an arm or a leg for example or develop severe tummy pain or a very severe headache then please do make sure that you come and see us urgently because we have treatments that could save your life.”

GP and pharmacy services will be unaffected by the industrial action and people are being urged to use these services as they would normally.

Patients can also use 111 online or call 111.

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