More than 85,000 appointments hit by latest NHS strikes

NHS strikes disrupted more than 85,000 appointments last week, according to newly released figures.

Junior doctors and hospital dental trainees picketed between 7am on 20 December to 7am on 23 December in the latest round of industrial action.

NHS data shows some 86,329 inpatient and outpatient appointments had to be moved.

The junior and trainee medics are continuing their action as they call for “pay restoration” to what they earned before the financial crisis in 2008 – equivalent to a 35% pay rise, which the government says is unaffordable.

The British Medical Association (BMA) union points to below-inflation pay rises for the past 15 years to explain the demands.

Since NHS strikes began in December 2022, some 1.2 million appointments have been affected.

And that number is set to rise, with more action set to take place from 7am on 3 January to 7am on 9 January.

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The six-day action will be the longest in NHS history.

NHS England national medical director, professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “This latest round of strike action over the festive period has put an already overloaded heath service under significantly more pressure – three days of strike action, ending two days before Christmas, has seen more than 86,000 more appointments rescheduled for patients needing care.

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“As well as having an impact on planned care, industrial action is putting pressure on wider services, and prioritising emergency care takes staff away from other areas such as recovering services.

“With another six-day walkout coming in the new year at what is one of the busiest times for the health service, strike action is once again going to bring significant challenges to the NHS as it struggles to provide for patients amid severe disruption.

“As ever, over the festive period, we encourage people to attend A&E and call 999 in life-threatening emergencies, but to use 111 online for other health needs.”

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Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers’ director of policy and strategy, said: “We can’t go on like this. We can’t afford another year of walkouts. This dispute needs urgent resolution.

“Trust leaders understand junior doctors’ strength of feeling and why they’re striking, but with a hugely disruptive six-day strike, the longest in NHS history, looming at the start of January, it’s now vital that the government and unions find a way to restart talks and prevent more walkouts.

“With more than 1.2 million hospital, mental health and community service appointments, including operations and scans, delayed since last December thanks to industrial action, patients are paying the price.”

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