Damage from junior doctor strike was unparalleled, shows figure

• Junior doctors’ strike caused over 175,000 patient appointments cancelled.
• And operations to be postponed.
• Making it the most disruptive NHS strike to date.

Statistics show that over 175,000 patient appointments and operations had to be postponed in England as a result of junior doctors’ strike this week.

This makes it the winter’s most disruptive NHS strike to date.

The 72-hour strike, which started on Monday, involved tens of thousands of medical professionals, with more senior hospital colleagues being requested to cover.

Consultants offered emergency care, but other scheduled non-urgent treatments had to be rescheduled.

Prof. Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, stated that this strike was on an unprecedented scale and had a greater impact than all other industrial action we have seen this winter put together.

This is despite the enormous efforts NHS staff made to keep patients safe and minimize disruption.

“Over 175,000 appointments and procedures were rescheduled to protect emergency, critical and urgent care for patients, which will inevitably impact on efforts to tackle the Covid backlog.”

This winter, nurses, ambulance drivers, and physiotherapists all conducted strikes. But, they have since suspended their actions as they assess a salary offer from the government.

After the success of a deal with other NHS employees in England, doctors’ leaders and ministers are being urged to begin formal salary negotiations.

The BMA is requesting a 35% pay increase, arguing that this will undo 15 years of wage losses, while the junior doctors’ pay dispute is still far from being settled.

Junior doctors, who range in experience from those who have recently graduated from university to some with 10 years of experience, make up over half of the medical workforce in England.

British Medical Association membership is held by two-thirds of junior physicians.

According to the most recent data, at least 86,000 people participated in the strike.

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