PATIENTS in south Devon are being asked to attend any planned hospital appointments unless told otherwise as consultant doctors being a 48 hour strike. 

Consultant doctors and hospital-based dentists will walk out for 48 hours from 7am today until 7am on Saturday, just days after junior doctors finished a five-day strike.

A spokesman for Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust said: ‘We are working hard to minimise disruption to our services and the care we provide, and want to thank you for your understanding and patience. 

‘We hope a resolution is reached very soon.’

Industrial action by the consultants follows five days of strikes by junior doctors lasting from last Thursday to Tuesday morning - the longest period of industrial action in NHS history.

Other clinicians cannot provide cover for consultants and any planned care delivered by junior doctors or other healthcare professionals that requires even remote consultant supervision will need to be rescheduled.

Eligible dentists and doctors will receive at least a 6per cent pay rise, while hospital consultants will receive a 6per cent rise.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was the ‘final offer’ and that there will be ‘no more talks on pay’.

But the BMA said the increase was a ‘savage real-terms pay cut’ and called it ‘derisory’.

This latest round of action is part of an ongoing dispute between the government and the British Medical Association about conditions and pay; this is not a dispute between our staff and organisation. 

The Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust spokesman added: ‘Please continue to keep any planned appointments unless we have contacted you to rearrange. 

‘Your NHS is still here to help you, but please continue to help us by using the most appropriate service for your health condition.’