New analysis from the Conservatives today warns that that a
further 27,000 appointments could be cancelled by NHS strikes if
Labour's disastrous Employment Rights Bill passes – ahead of the
latest round of damaging Resident Doctor strikes.
Despite their pledge to ‘reset' industrial relations with the
NHS, the health service, patients and taxpayers have already
faced significant burdens from NHS industrial action under
Labour's watch.
But in spite of this, Labour is still pressing ahead with their
plans to repeal Conservative trade union legislation and make it
easier for unions to strike.
Independent estimates show the Bill would increase the number of
days lost to strike action by around 50 per cent, risking even
greater disruption across the NHS. With over 54,000 appointments
already lost to strike action this 50% increase could see a
further 27,050 lost – at a cost of £43.7 million to the taxpayer.
The Conservatives warned that Labour's decision to hand out
inflation-busting pay rises with no reform or long-term workforce
plan would not deliver stability. Now the consequences are clear:
more disruption, more uncertainty and more patients paying the
price for Labour's surrender to union power. Wes Streeting's
tough talk means nothing without action, and his failure to stand
up to the unions has left the NHS paralysed by strikes.
With strikes looming and patients left in the lurch, and are too busy briefing against each other. Patients
and families deserve better. These strikes show Britain just
isn't working under Labour and the damaging Employment Rights
Bill will make this worse.
Only the Conservatives have a clear, decisive plan to end this
destructive cycle and put patients first. A future Conservative
government will ban doctors' strikes, just as we do for the army
and police and introduce minimum service levels across the NHS to
ensure patient safety always comes before union demands. Labour's
weakness has put lives at risk. The Conservatives will restore
order, protect patients and get the NHS and Britain working
again.
MP, Shadow Health Secretary,
said:
“With a new wave of strikes looming, it is deeply worrying to all
patients who rely on the NHS. Labour's weakness has sent us back
to square one, handing over millions of taxpayers' money without
offering any credible solution.
“This damning analysis shines a light on Labour's failure to get
a grip of militant unions. Labour needs to grow a backbone and
stop kowtowing to the unions. If they were truly serious about
cutting waiting lists and delivering the health system our
country deserves, they would back our plans to protect patients.
“Only the Conservatives, under the leadership of , are stepping up with
common-sense proposals, including banning doctors' strikes, just
like we do for the army and police, to protect patients, the
public finances and Get Britain Working Again.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
-
The Employment Rights Bill will increase the number of
days lost to strike action by an estimated 50 per
cent. The Employment Rights Bill will repeal parts of
the Trade Union Act 2016, reducing the threshold to strikes. An
impact assessment of the Trade Union Act predicted that it
would reduce the number of strikes by 35 per cent. If that is
reversed, it would see a 50 per cent increase from the lower
baseline (UK Parliament, Employment Rights Bill, 11
October 2024, link; BEIS, Trade
Union Act Impact Assessment, September 2016, link).
-
In July 2025, there were 64,499 staff absent across the
strike period as a result of industrial action.
Between 25 July and 29 July, there were 64,499 staff absent due
to industrial action, effectively losing 64,499 days lost
(NHSE, Industrial Action workforce situation report, 4
August 2025, archived).
-
During strike action between 25 July and 29 July 2025,
54,095 appointments were cancelled or
scheduled (NHSE, Industrial Action workforce
situation report, 4 August 2025, archived).
-
Policy Exchange estimate the cost of ‘consultant cover'
during days on resident doctor industrial action in March to
April 2023 was £17.5 million per day. That would total
£87.46 million over the course of five days of strikes (Policy
Exchange, Completely Unreasonable, July 2025,
link).
-
If the number of days lost to industrial action in the
NHS was increased by 50 per cent, that would cost the NHS an
additional £43.73 million, and disrupt 27,050 more
appointments. This is likely to be an underestimate of
appointment disruption due to the inclusion of weekend data,
when fewer inpatient and outpatient appointments are scheduled.
