DOCTORS' leaders in Scotland have vowed that patient care will not be compromised as medics stage a walkout over pensions today.

It will see only urgent and emergency cases dealt with at hospitals and surgeries.

Thousands of outpatient appointments and routine procedures have been postponed on the one-day work-to-rule by members of the British Medical Association in a dispute over changes to pension contributions and retirement age.

Scotland's largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said it has cancelled 57 inpatient appointments and 113 day case procedures but insisted all patients affected would be rescheduled for no later than August 31.

NHS Ayrshire and Arransaid more than one-quarter of scheduled appointments and procedures – 342 of 1212 outpatient appointments and 27 of 80 theatre cases – are being postponed.

David Cameron last night urged doctors to think again.

However, in a letter to The Herald today, several senior Scots medics, including Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA Scottish Council, Dr Lewis Morrison, BMA Scottish Consultants Committee, and Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the Scottish GPs Committee, said the decision to take a work-to-rule was a "last resort".

They wrote: "It is unfortunate that we have reached this point. Our action is in protest against changes to the NHS pension scheme which would see all NHS staff – from porters and nurses, to junior doctors and consultants – working longer and paying more for their pensions."

NHS 24 is laying on extra staff to cope with demand, but urged patients to contact their GP surgery in the first instance.

Medical director, Professor George Crooks OBE said: "NHS 24 will continue to support patients with an urgent healthcare need."