Home / Health / NHS Keeps Care for 10,000 More Patients During Latest Doctors' Strike
NHS Keeps Care for 10,000 More Patients During Latest Doctors' Strike
2 Aug
Summary
- 93% of planned operations, tests, and procedures went ahead during 5-day strike
- Fewer than a third of resident doctors joined the strike, down 7.5% from last year
- NHS chief urges resident doctors to return to negotiating table to avoid further disruption
According to the latest data, the NHS was able to maintain care for an estimated 10,000 more patients during the recent doctors' strike compared to the previous industrial action last year. The 5-day walkout, which ended on Wednesday, saw 93% of planned operations, tests, and procedures go ahead across England.
In contrast, the majority of non-urgent care had to be postponed during previous strikes. This time, fewer than a third of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, chose to join the strike action, a decrease of 7.5% (1,243) from the previous round in July 2024.
While the NHS chief, Sir James Mackey, acknowledged that the strike still disrupted care for thousands of people, he praised the efforts of NHS staff in ensuring the majority of patients received their scheduled treatment. However, he warned that a repeat of such disruptive action would be unacceptable, urging the Resident Doctors Committee to return to the negotiating table and work with the government on improving resident doctors' working conditions.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also thanked NHS staff for their efforts during the "unnecessary" strike, and reiterated his willingness to resume talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) to resolve the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
