JUNIOR doctors at Southend Hospital planning strike action say they are confident patients’ safety won’t be put at risk.

Medics planning days of action over plans to increase weekend working have pledged to provide the same cover for emergency care as they would on a Sunday or bank holiday.

Dr Sheneen Meghji, a junior doctor at Southend and Chelmsford hospital and local representative of the British Medical Association said everything possible would be done to ensure patient safety, however there is set to be disruption to elective appointments and surgery She said: “Emergency care will be as a normal bank holiday or sunday so everyone who would be on call will still be on call and all emergency department staff and emergency department maternity staff will be there.

“I don’t believe patients will be put in any risk. There will potentially be disruption to elective clinics and surgery but current two-week wait clinics will still go ahead.”

Health Minister Jeremy Hunt was due to talk with ACAS yesterday (thurs) in a bid to head off the industrial action.

Dr Meghji added: “We have to get our message across. We really hope the talks are successful and we won’t have to strike but if we do we carry it out in the safest way for patients.”

Southend Hospital said yesterday(Thurs) the action was expected to cause disruption for patients.

A spokesman for the hospital said: “The trust has detailed plans in order to manage any impact the proposed action will have on our services, and we would like to reassure our local communities that the safety of our patients is always our priority.

“We expect to run all emergency services for patients along with other urgent care such as cancer, maternity services and dialysis.

“As always, we ask if you are unwell to choose the most suitable service for the treatment you need including pharmacists, GPs and NHS111 and to only use A&E in an emergency.”

He added: “We are currently reviewing our outpatient services and hope to run as many as possible, as the majority are delivered by our consultants.

“However there is likely to be some impact to routine inpatient elective procedures, such as planned operations and some outpatient clinics.

BMA junior doctor members have voted to take action at the following times:

• from 8am, Tuesday, December 1 to 8am Wednesday, December 2 - to provide emergency care only

• from 8am to 5pm, Tuesday, December 8 – a full walk out

• from 8am to 5pm, Wednesday, December 16 - A full walk out

The hospital said it would contact patients over any changes to their appointments caused by the action, so patients should attend their appointments if they don’t hear from the hospital.