STAFF at Frimley Park Hospital joined junior doctors on the picket line on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with their embattled colleagues.

Operations and outpatient clinics again had to be rescheduled at the two major hospitals serving Farnham, Frimley Park and the Royal Surrey, this week as the first of three scheduled 48-hour strikes took place in a row with the government over the imposition of a new contract.

At noon on Wednesday, all members of Frimley Park’s staff were invited to join the junior doctors for a two-minute ‘show of solidarity’ outside the hospital’s main entrance.

Many took up the offer, and Frimley Park trainee anaesthetist Kayur Patel thanked his colleagues and the public for their show of support.

He told The Herald: “Through this whole process all members of staff at our hospital have been very supportive and inquisitive about what’s going on.

“Everyone is very supportive and we had greater support from members of the public on Wednesday than on previous picket lines. A lot more people stopped to sign petitions, speak to us, deliver cakes and tell us their stories.

“Out of all the picket lines we’ve organised, this has been one of the most positive.”

A spokesman for Frimley Park Hospital added: “On the first day of industrial action six inpatient operations and 26 day case procedures at the hospital were affected.

“Those patients had already been notified in advance so we are advising people to turn up to their appointment as planned unless they have heard from the hospital to be told otherwise.

“We are working to make sure that we can continue to operate as many services as possible in a way that remains safe for our patients. Anyone needing urgent emergency care will be seen and treated as usual.”

Further 48 hour strikes are set to take place on April 6 and 26. Neither will affect emergency care.