Doctors’ assistants have flagged “unkind comments” during the four-day strike next week when patients are “presumably going to die”.

Young doctors have been consulted about “unfriendly comments” they are receiving during next week’s devastating strikes, the Mail can reveal.

An architect of the action said medics must “look after ourselves and our mental health” during strikes – despite expert warnings the disruption would lead to patients “inevitably dying”.

DR Adrianna Zembrzycka, of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Junior Doctors Committee, offered support for those “targeted by negative and unkind comments”.

The militant leader said the BMA is “providing a range of peer support, counseling and social services to all those affected” as they fight for a 35 per cent pay rise that will suppress inflation.

But around 250,000 patients whose essential operations and appointments are being canceled during the four-day strike starting on Tuesday appear to have little concern.

The militant leader said the BMA is offering “a range of peer support, counseling and social services” to all those affected as they fight for a 35 per cent pay rise that will stem inflation (Photo: Striking junior doctors outside Downing street).

The three-day campaign last month saw 175,000 cancellations as young medics withdrew from emergency rooms and intensive care units across England.

Politicians criticized doctors and urged them to “focus on the patients they are failing”.

Lee Anderson, deputy leader of the Conservative Party, said: “Medical Momentum, the BMA, must gain traction.

While they are on strike, 250,000 operations will be suspended. They should be helping people who miss their deadlines, instead of giving “advice” to their members because people are tired of these tricks.

“The leadership of the BMA junior doctors must focus on the abandoned patients, come to the negotiating table and end this strike.”

Dr Zembrzycka, deputy co-chair for professional issues on the BMA’s medical committee, wrote the “Wake” article on the union’s website last week.

She said the decision to take industrial action meant “the coming weeks and months will be extremely busy and challenging”.

The medic continued: “We all need to take care of ourselves and our mental health and well-being.

“We may get more media attention, we may feel extra pressure in our workplaces or find it harder to deal with bosses, colleagues, patients, maybe even friends and family.

“As representatives of the people, members of parliament and dedicated trade unionists, we are at the forefront. And this can unfortunately mean that you become the target of negative and unkind comments.

“It is understandable that this can have a negative impact on our mental health and so I would ask everyone to do as much as possible to look after themselves and protect their mental health and wellbeing.”

She then listed the “peer support, counseling and social services” offered, adding that they were “not limited to wage disputes.”

DR Zembrzycka said her confrontation with the government “can get pretty rocky”, so medics “really have to take care of ourselves and others.”

She also urged medics to “remain kind, compassionate, polite and respectful at all times” – despite doctors sharing mean memes online.

One meme used clips from the famous “Here’s Johnny” scene in The Shining to show Health Secretary Steve Barclay being hunted with an axe.

DR Zembrzycka signed her letter with the words: “We are stuck here and I suspect that we will need each other urgently. Stay together, fight together, win together.’

DR Zembrzycka (photo) signed her letter with the words: “We are stuck here and I suspect that we will need each other urgently. Stay together, fight together, win together.’

The comments are likely to anger hundreds of thousands of patients who have canceled surgeries and appointments.

Leading heart experts have warned that critically ill patients will “inevitably die” as a direct result of union action.

Dr Richard Grocott-Mason, managing director of Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, said: “I think it is only right to warn that some patients will inevitably die as a result of the cumulative impact of delaying hundreds of waiting lists.”

He said 300 “P2” patients waiting for heart surgery – the second highest priority group – now have to wait even longer for the operation.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this is delaying an operation for this group [P2s] will cause damage. For some, it can be life-changing. For others it can mean premature death,” said Dr. Grocott Mason.

Despite the warning, the Junior Doctors Committee will not offer strike exemptions for all areas of life and death care, including A&E and critical and maternity care, next week.

This has angered some senior medical professionals, particularly given that the Royal College of Nursing has exempted many areas of life and death care from the strikes which have been ongoing since December.

The BMA stressed that the welfare service is available to all doctors, including non-members, and is “not limited to collective bargaining”.

A spokesperson said: “BMA is proud to offer welfare services not only to our members but also to the profession, whether during a pandemic, during the challenges of industrial disputes or at any other time.

“We take care of doctors so they can take care of patients.

“BMA is proud to offer wellness services not only to our members, but to the entire profession, whether during a pandemic, during the challenges of labor disputes or at any other time. We take care of doctors so they can take care of patients. It is offensive and stigmatizing to dismiss people for seeking help with their mental well-being, especially given what doctors and their colleagues have gone through caring for people during the Covid pandemic, often at the expense of their own physical, mental and emotional. health.”