Hospitals see busiest Monday of the year at A&Es - despite being hugely down on doctors as strikes continue

Hospitals have seen the 'busiest Monday of the year' - despite being down on doctors as the major strike continues until Wednesday (March 15). 

Some A&Es saw their busiest start to the week so far this year as strikes got underway yesterday (March 14), the country's top doctor has warned. 'Thousands of patients' will face postponements to routine care, including appointments and operations in both hospitals and GP surgeries amid sweeping industrial action by medical unions. 

Some 64,000 junior doctors will be going on strike, making up half of the medical workforce. The term 'junior doctors' covers everyone who has just graduated from medical school to those with many years' experience on the front line, as well as GP trainees.

READ MORE: 'Many appointments and procedures postponed' as every hospital in Greater Manchester to be hit by doctors strikes

The country's leading medic is urging people to stay away from A&E if they can. NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Emergency departments remained under severe pressure yesterday, and, while we are prioritising urgent and critical care, it's important to remember that GP surgeries and pharmacies are largely unaffected and that 111 online can help with many non-urgent needs.

“Some hospitals even saw their busiest Monday of the year so far for A&E attendance as the strike got underway yesterday, which presents a major challenge as our staff continue to do all they can to mitigate the impact of the industrial action for patients.

"As we see the impact of the most significant strike disruption in the history of the NHS, we're really grateful to the public for using services appropriately.

“If you need emergency care, please continue to call 999,