Commenting on the six-day junior doctors’ strike, which ended
today at 7am, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS
Providers said:
“This week’s strike by junior doctors – the longest in NHS
history – couldn’t have come at a tougher time for the health
service.
“Winter pressures and staffing shortages are a huge challenge,
compounded by the spike in flu and surge in Covid-19 cases.
“But the timing, scale and duration of this strike action –
planned for a week when the NHS could least afford it – took
these pressures to another level.
“Patient safety was, and continues to be, trust leaders’ number
one priority.
“Trusts did everything they could to prioritise patient safety
and protect emergency and critical care for the most vulnerable
patients.
“Trust leaders told us that the huge strains on urgent and
emergency care, maternity services and overnight staffing were a
real worry during this walkout.
“It was this increased concern for patient safety that
underpinned the multiple derogation requests made by trusts over
the course of this six-day strike, with only two being
granted.
“The full extent of the disruption, demoralisation and financial
impact of this walkout will become increasingly apparent in the
coming days and weeks.
“But we already know that it is patients who have yet again paid
a heavy price with many tens of thousands of appointments likely
to be disrupted.“Leaders across the health service are acutely
aware of the knock-on effects for patients who have to wait
longer than they should for care. “But cancelled
appointments are only part of the picture. Worries are mounting
for the health and well-being of patients who chose not to come
forward for care during the strike. “The NHS and its
patients simply cannot afford the possibility of junior doctors
seeking to extend their strike mandate for another six
months.
“The hard-won progress from previous talks between both sides of
this dispute – the government and the BMA – must not be lost.
It’s in everyone’s interest now for them to urgently resume
negotiations and find a resolution.”
