- ITV Report
Doctors on strike
Doctors across the West are taking industrial action today for the first time in almost 40 years.
It's over changes to their pensions.
Members of the British Medical Association, which represents around two thirds of doctors, will still provide urgent and emergency care but hundreds of patients have had their non-urgent appointments cancelled.
The Government's pension changes will see doctors having to put aside 14.5% of their salary to fund their index-linked pension, rather than the current 8.5%; and the age at which they will able to draw their full pension will rise by two years.
All the major hospitals through the ITV West region have told us they are working closely with staff to ensure that the impact of industrial action is kept to a minimum and that patient safety and care quality is maintained. They say all patients who need urgent or emergency treatment will receive this, including all inpatient and outpatient cancer treatments. Inpatients in hospital should also receive the normal level of care.
But across the region hundreds of outpatient appointments and operations have been cancelled as a result of the doctors' action. All patients affected should have been contacted and alternative arrangements made.
The majority of GP practices across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will not be taking part in today's action.