Junior doctors strike 11 – 15 April expected to have serious impact on patient care

Image above: West Middlesex University Hospital

Up to 350,000 appointments and operations could be cancelled 

Junior doctors in England are going on a four-day strike this week, which is expected to have a serious impact on patient care and NHS waiting lists.

The strike, which begins on Tuesday (11 April) and ends on Saturday (15 April), is expected to be the most disruptive in the 75-year history of the NHS, resulting in up to 350,000 appointments and operations being cancelled.

Junior doctors are demanding a 35% pay rise after years of below-inflation increases. In a ballot organised by the British Medical Association (BMA), junior doctors voted overwhelmingly to strike, with a 98% vote on a 77% turnout. The strike action is taking place in England after the Easter bank holiday weekend, from 6.59 am on Tuesday until 6.59 am on Saturday.

Junior doctors represent more than 40% of the medical workforce and include those fresh out of university through to experienced medics with more than 10 years of experience. Around two-thirds are BMA members. The BMA warned that the combination of the cost of living crisis, burnout and pay rises well below inflation is driving hard-working doctors out of their profession.

According to the BMA, in the last 12 months more than 50% of the junior doctors they surveyed have had difficulties paying their utility bills. A statement from the BMA explains the reasons behind the strike action:

“In 2022, junior doctors were offered an insulting and well below inflation pay rise of 2%. No-one can be expected to stay in a high pressured job where your earnings are being eroded year on year. That’s why we are calling on the government for full pay restoration.’’

Image above: a patient being treated by an NHS worker; library image

“Catastrophic impact” on waiting lists

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, has called on the public to avoid “risky behaviour” during the strike and use NHS services “responsibly”. He has urged the government and the BMA to enter negotiations to avoid the disruption the strike would cause. Mr Taylor told Sky News:

“These strikes are going to have a catastrophic impact on the capacity of the NHS to recover services. The health service has to meet high levels of demand at the same time as making inroads into that huge backlog that built up before Covid, but then built up much more during Covid.

“That’s a tough thing to do at the best of times – it’s impossible to do when strikes are continuing.”

NHS bosses have warned the strike will be worse than the 72-hour walkouts last month, as it is longer, and sandwiched between the Easter bank holiday weekend and another weekend. It is also a time when many consultants will have booked holiday, with Ramadan and Passover to consider too. In a sense, NHS bosses say it is a perfect storm in terms of the capacity of the health service.

Image above: West Middlesex University Hospital

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Trust issues advice for patients

The NHS Trust which oversees the West Middlesex and Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals says both will be very busy on these days, as fewer staff will be working. The Trust’s community-based clinics will also be affected.

Plans are in place to help provide safe, urgent and emergency care for patients who need it, they say.

‘‘It is important that people continue to seek help from the NHS when they need it, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases.

‘‘Our A&E departments will be very busy during the strikes so if you need medical care, but it’s not an emergency, please contact 111, a GP or your local pharmacy. This will help us to prioritise patients with the most urgent health needs and help you get the right care in a timely way.’’

NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said that it had been a challenging bank holiday weekend for hospitals in England and that the industrial action by junior doctors would bring ‘immense pressure’ on services. He said:

“The NHS has been preparing extensively for the next set of strikes but managing additional pressure doesn’t get easier as time goes by – it gets much more difficult – not only due to the sheer number of appointments that need to be rescheduled but also that they can take time to rearrange with multiple teams involved.

“This is set to be the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history, and the strikes tomorrow will bring immense pressures, coming on the back of a challenged extended bank holiday weekend for staff and services. Emergency, urgent and critical care will be prioritised but some patients will unfortunately have had their appointments postponed – if you haven’t, please do continue to come forward.

“As ever, use 999 and A&E for life threatening emergencies but use NHS 111 online for all other health conditions.”

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