The impact of the junior doctors’ strikes in London was laid bare on Thursday as figures revealed that the capital had the highest number of cancelled procedures of any region in England.
Nearly 33,000 hospital appointments and procedures were rescheduled during the 72-hour walkout last week by junior doctors in the British Medical Association (BMA), according to NHS figures.
An average of 4,566 doctors walked out in London, which is at least 600 more than the North East, the second worst-affected region.
And a total of 2,727 operations were postponed – a figure 60 per cent higher than any other region.
Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said the impact of strikes was being felt across “already overstretched” hospital, ambulance, mental health and community services.
A spokesperson for the NHS in London told the Standard: “Despite the huge efforts NHS staff made to keep Londoners safe and minimise disruption, nearly 33,000 hospital appointments and procedures were rescheduled during last week’s strikes to protect emergency, critical and urgent care for patients.
“Each day of industrial action is an extra day that patients with long-term health conditions don’t get the appointment or operation they need. It’s therefore vital that anyone who’s had a change in their symptoms or a new health concern contacts the NHS. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.”
Junior doctors began the first wave of strikes in March this year in a bitter dispute over pay. It followed industrial action by nurses and paramedics.
The BMA is seeking a 35 per cent pay rise to restore a real-terms fall in income since 2008, arguing that junior doctors are struggling to pay rent and bills during the cost-of-living crisis.
But Health Secretary Steve Barclay has branded the pay demand “unaffordable”, with both sides remaining deadlocked.
Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA junior doctors, told protesters at Parliament Square last week that junior doctors would “continue to strike hard” until the Government came to the table.
“It is working – your strike action is what’s forcing the Government to take a seat at the table.
“Without your action, we’d be disregarded and ignored.”
The union has indicated that it could strike for three days every month unless the Government makes a “credible” pay offer. A ballot for a mandate for a further six months of strikes opened last week.
Separately, hospital consultants in England have announced they will strike for two days in July if they vote in favour of industrial action.
The BMA said its members will walk out on July 20 and 21 if consultants vote in favour. Results from the ballot are due by the end of the month.
Other unions have already settled a pay dispute with ministers after the NHS staff council voted to accept the Government’s revised pay offer for staff on the Agenda for Change contract including paramedics, nurses and physiotherapists.
The offer consisted of a 5 per cent pay rise for this year and a cash sum for last year.
