It is feared that the four-day NHS junior doctors strike could lead to partial closures of under-staffed A&E departments.
The walkout this week has seen British Medical Association members take action over wages, with the union insisting on a 35% ‘pay restoration’.
So far, the Government has refused to sit down for talks with the BMA unless they lower their demands.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer does not feel the figure they are asking for is affordable, but has nevertheless called on Health Secretary Steve Barclay to “sort this issue out”.
The BMA has begun communication with mediators Acas, but their absence from hospitals this week will mean a reduced service in emergency units, with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) revealing A&E departments may decide to treat only patients arriving by ambulance, reports the Mirror.
Read more: Sunak says junior doctors must agree a ‘reasonable compromise’ on pay
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the RCEM, said: “Most A&E departments will cope, but it will be very tight.
“There are 40% to 60% of the usual medical staff working. It has been harder to arrange cover for this strike.
“Consultants are human like everyone else; they have families and childcare responsibilities.
“If A&E departments are not coping they will end up closing parts of the services.”
The BMA chair of council Professor Philip Banfield said in a statement: “We have always said we will get round the table for talks with Mr Barclay any time; a credible offer from him could result in strike action being called off, but despite months of trying, he remains seemingly intransigent and inflexible to all our attempts to reach a settlement.
“The BMA has no preconditions to talks and has consistently sought to negotiate with the Government.
“Restoring junior doctors’ pay should not be an unworkable proposition for talks and through the services of Acas, we’re offering the Government an opportunity to discuss how we get there.
“It takes both sides of a dispute to want to find a solution and we urge the Health Secretary to show the same willingness that we have and make himself available and open to talks facilitated by Acas.”
But Barclay said: “I hoped to begin meaningful negotiations when I met the BMA last month.
“But its demand for a 35% pay rise is unreasonable. If the BMA move significantly on this and cancels strikes we can resume talks.”
