Nearly 88,000 NHS Appointments Cancelled During Junior Doctor Strike
Nearly 88,000 NHS appointments were cancelled in England last week as a result of the latest junior doctor strike. The walkout coincides with one of the busiest times for the health service, and not only disrupts planned care but also strains wider services, diverting resources from critical areas.
The strike affected hospital check-ups, operations, and community and mental health appointments, adding to the already significant impact of the strikes in the NHS that started last year. With over 1.2 million appointments affected since December 2022, Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers' director of policy and strategy, emphasises the urgency for resolution, expressing concern about the disruptive consequences for patients.
Concerns are escalating as the junior doctors plan a six-day walkout starting on January 3rd, marking the longest strike in NHS history. This follows the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government failing to reach an agreement earlier this month.
Healthcare leaders fear for patients' safety during the upcoming strike, which poses unprecedented challenges for the NHS. The BMA urges the government to make a new offer, advocating for a substantial pay rise to address below-inflation pay increases since 2008.
The strikes not only affect England, with junior doctors in Wales planning a 72-hour walkout, and those in Northern Ireland being balloted for strike action, adding to the broader concerns about the strain on the entire NHS system.
As negotiations remain deadlocked, the impact of the strikes extends beyond cancelled appointments, raising questions about patient safety and the sustainability of the NHS under such prolonged and extensive industrial action.
