CONTINGENCY plans are being put in place to minimise disruption for patients if junior doctors at Airedale Hospital go on strike.

The trust said it would be working to ensure urgent and emergency care could continue during the action.

Thousands of junior doctors across England voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a bitter row with the Government.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said 98 per cent voted in favour of strikes, with two per cent against and 11 spoilt ballot papers. More than 37,000 doctors were balloted by the BMA, and 76 per cent took part in the vote.

A total of 99.4 per cent said they were prepared to take part in industrial action short of a strike.

The BMA said it is still keen to avoid strike action and has approached the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) for talks with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS employers, which is running negotiations for the Government.

If a strike goes ahead, doctors will take action on three days, providing emergency care only for 24 hours from 8am on Tuesday, followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.

There is expected to be mass disruption to the NHS, with hospitals forced to cancel outpatient clinics and non-urgent operations.

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the BMA council, said: “We regret the inevitable disruption this will cause but it is the Government’s adamant insistence on imposing a contract that is unsafe for patients in the future, and unfair for doctors now and in the future, that has brought us to this point.

“Patients are doctors’ first priority, which is why, even with such a resounding mandate, we are keen to avert the need for industrial action, which is why we have approached ACAS to offer conciliatory talks with the Health Secretary and NHS employers to clarify the conflicting information coming from Government during the past weeks.”

Stacey Hunter, director of operations at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are currently considering our contingency plans and we are working with our staff, including consultants, nurses, other health professionals and union representatives, to ensure patient safety, care and welfare are maintained during the planned industrial action by junior doctors.

“While there will be a need to rearrange some of our planned activities, such as outpatient appointments and non-emergency operations, plans will be put in place to ensure any urgent and emergency care can continue.

“We will contact anyone whose appointment or operation is affected.”