NHS doctors in England to strike for five days
Thousands of resident doctors will go on strike across England from today
Thousands of NHS resident doctors in England are starting a five-day strike this morning in a dispute over pay.
Health leaders are warning the NHS may have to cut frontline staff plus appointments and operations for patients if doctors’ strikes continue.
The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, which represent health trusts, said continued action was piling pressure on already-stretched budgets.
The five-day action from Friday is the 13th walkout by doctors since March 2023, with the last strike in July estimated to have cost the health service £300 million.
NHS leaders warn of strike consequences
NHS Confederation and NHS Providers said that if the NHS continues to have to foot the bill from strikes, it could lead to staff being cut and fewer tests, appointments and operations being carried out.
The knock-on impact on patients is they will be forced to wait longer for care, and many may no longer be able to work without the treatment they need, they said.
The groups also warned that strikes are hitting progress in bringing down NHS waiting lists. Figures on Thursday showed early signs the waiting list is dropping, with September seeing a slight fall after three consecutive months of rises.
The last time resident doctors went on strike, more than 54,000 procedures and appointments needed to be cancelled or rescheduled, despite the NHS maintaining 93% of planned activity.
"Tens of thousands of tests, appointments and operations likely to be delayed or cancelled"
NHS Confederation chief executive, Matthew Taylor, said: “There is no doubt that patients will bear the brunt of this disruption, with tens of thousands of tests, appointments and operations likely to be delayed or cancelled.
“NHS leaders understand how frustrating this will be for them being left waiting in pain or discomfort, not knowing when their treatment will be rescheduled.
“With flu already beginning to bite there is a real risk that these strikes will leave the NHS limping into a very difficult winter at a time when it is trying to recover performance and implement vital long-term reforms.
“But industrial action is also having a major financial impact on the NHS, with the last five-day walkout estimated to have cost a staggering £300 million.
“These costs are not included in the health service’s budget, which is already very tight given the strain on public sector finances.
“This means that more strikes will blow further holes in these constrained budgets and could result in leaders having to cut staff or reduce service levels in order to balance the books.”
Mr Taylor said the British Medical Association (BMA) “must recognise that these strikes are disproportionate, given the current financial environment and the fact resident doctors have already had one of the biggest pay rises in the public sector.”
He said: “We would urge them to call them off, moderate their demands to something achievable and re-enter negotiations.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has refused to move on the issue of pay for resident doctors, saying they have received an almost 30% increase in pay over three years.
But the BMA argues doctors need a 26% pay uplift to restore their earnings, once inflation is taken into account.
Patients should attend operations unless advised otherwise
NHS England is urging patients to continue coming forward for care and attend any planned appointments unless they hear otherwise.
Patients who need emergency help should continue to use 999 or A&E as normal, while NHS 111 is also available alongside usual GP services.