A Bolton junior doctor has said that strikes will continue until a “credible offer”, is put forward -  but he reassured the public that patient safety won’t be affected.

Junior doctors across England have launched a four-day strike in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS.

An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

This morning junior doctors gathered to raise awareness of the strike at the entrance to the hospital, holding up placards.

Accident and emergency doctor Joseph Williams and British Medical Association representative for junior doctors in Bolton, has said that any elective appointments will be under pressure as a result of strikes but has said that anyone with an acute medical condition will “get the care they need”.

The Bolton News:

He said: “There will be no changes to patient safety because there will be consultants looking after patients and we are fully ready to step in if needed.

“Any elective appointments will be under pressure.

“But patients should go to A&E and their GP as they normally would.

“If you have an acute medical condition, you will get the care you need.”

He says that the strikes will continue until they receive a “credible offer” and that they are asking for a restoration rise for it to go back to what it used to be before the pay cut.

BMA has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35 per cent pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.

Dr Williams added: “We are not asking for a pay rise; we are asking for restored pay so we can keep looking after patients.

“The problem is that all these issues stem from the pay percentage cut.

“We want our working conditions to be better but there doesn’t seem to be a pathway without improving pay.”

He also praised the public for their ongoing support and says that they have received a lot of beeps and waves of support, and that it’s good to know that the public are “really behind them”.

Dr Williams says that the door is open for negotiations and that the strikes are needed to put pressure on the Government.

He said: “We chose strike action to put pressure on the Government.

“The Government has refused to negotiate.

“The BMA offered multiple times to come to the table with negotiations and the Government has refused in good faith.

“We will be continuing to strike until the Government give a credible offer.”

The strikes centre around a pay row between the BMA and the Government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26 per cent real terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.

Dr Williams says that the strikes are important because of the 26 per cent loss in pay, which is resulting in doctors leaving the NHS in numbers for better conditions in other countries.

Doctors mounted picket lines today outside hospitals from 7am today and will do so until Saturday morning, in the longest stoppage of the wave of unrest, which has seen nurses, ambulance crews and other health workers take action since last year.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has issued advice to patients during the strikes.

Chief operating officer Rae Wheatcroft said today: “Our priority during the four days of strikes will be to provide emergency services, alongside care and ongoing support for our inpatients.

“We have built on our plans from the junior doctor action in March, and our teams will ensure we continue to keep our sickest patients safe.

“We are immensely grateful to the public for their ongoing support by using the NHS appropriately, and we ask they continue to show kindness towards our staff who will be doing everything they can to look after our patients during this challenging period.”

Patients should still go to planned appointments unless they have been told about a reschedule and should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency.

People can help the help service by bringing friends or relatives who are due to be discharged home as soon as possible to free up beds and by ordering repeat prescriptions and medicines to stock up before the Easter weekend.

Anyone who needs to see a health professional fact to face can go to 111.nhs.uk.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.