Ahead of strike action by consultants and junior doctors this
week, including one day of co-ordinated strike action (Wednesday
20 September) by both sets of doctors for the first time ever,
the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery
said:
"This week’s industrial action, including a joint walkout by
consultants and junior doctors for the first time, is likely to
cause disruption to patient care unlike anything we’ve seen
before.
“The continuing dispute – and the absence of meaningful dialogue
between the two sides – is worrying for patients, demoralising
for staff, and damaging for the NHS.
“Patients have been left paying the price with concerns mounting
about the deteriorating quality of life for those who continue to
face long delays to their care.
“Trust leaders have told us that month after month of strike
action is also having a huge impact on staff morale, resilience
and teamwork with frontline staff growing increasingly fatigued
as this dispute drags on.
“The impact is growing and becoming more pervasive by the day.
Staff are exasperated at spending valuable time rescheduling
large numbers of appointments and preparing for industrial action
instead of being able to focus their efforts on reducing record
waiting lists and getting ready for what is likely to be another
tough winter.
“We have spoken extensively to trust leaders across hospital,
mental health, community and ambulance services ahead of the
strikes who have raised concerns including:
- One trust who told us they’ve had to reschedule care for more
seriously ill patients who previously may have been protected
from strike disruption.
- A trust leader who told us their trust is rescheduling
appointments for some patients whose care has already had to be
moved because of strike action.
- Another trust who told us that, for the first time, they are
planning to deploy volunteers who are invaluable in supporting
patients with meals and drinks as well as providing company into
the emergency department during strikes.
- A trust leader who said strike action continued to have a
negative impact on their ability to discharge patients, adding to
pressure across the hospital.
“With nearly one million patient appointments already disrupted
due to industrial action since last December, and waiting lists
hitting another record high, the prime minister’s pledge to
reduce the backlog is fast evaporating.
“Meanwhile, with industrial action estimated to have cost the NHS
at least £1bn so far, trust leaders also told us they are worried
that senior doctors are increasingly unwilling to cover shifts
when junior doctors are striking. This could put already
stretched NHS budgets under extra strain as trusts face losing
even more income as well as the prospect of paying even more to
incentivise senior doctors to cover for striking colleagues.
“We need this dispute to be resolved, and fast, but there is a
deep and growing frustration among trust leaders at the sheer
lack of inaction to even start to break this deadlock. We cannot
allow strikes to become business as usual for the NHS.
“With no end in sight, trust leaders are once again urging the
government and trade unions to sit down and talk so that
everyone’s focus can get back to the real priority: providing
safe, high-quality, and timely care for patients.”
