HOSPITALS in Merseyside have had to reschedule routine operations, cancel clinics and postpone appointments for the first doctors strike in almost 40 years.
However, NHS managers say because of their work with doctors in the run-up to the action, they are confident the impact on patients will be “minimal”.
Letters have been sent out to affected patients.
Medics will be going into work to do urgent cases and routine work which they feel cannot be postponed.
Similarly, GP practices throughout Merseyside will be open for urgent cases.
Regional NHS chiefs do not expect the numbers of postponed operations to be significantly high.
At Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen Hospitals they have only needed to reschedule 25 routine operations.
Walton Neurological Hospital has only cancelled 10 routine operations.
