OUTPATIENT clinics and elective operations were again cancelled at Frimley Park Hospital this week as junior doctors staged a second 24-hour strike in less than a month.

Members of the British Medical Council (BMA) joined the picket lines from 8am on Wednesday to 8am the following morning after talks with the Department for Health to finalise a new 24/7 employment contract again broke down.

The action forced a ‘limited’ number of outpatient clinics and planned procedures at Frimley Park to be cancelled, with affected patients notified in advance.

And the other major hospital serving Farnham, the Royal Surrey in Guildford, said it put a “robust contingency plan” into action as doctors manned a picket line at the main entrance.

Both hospitals continued to offer a full emergency service during the strike however, after the BMA backed down on a threatened full withdrawal of care, but people were advised to “use it wisely” and keep A&E for “those who really need it”.