NHS chiefs warn approaching doctors’ strike threatens tackling backlog

NHS bosses are warning that progress being made on tackling the hospital waiting backlog will be put at risk by next week’s junior doctors’ strike.

Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s medical director, said there had been huge achievements made over winter, but he said it was inevitable this week’s 72-hour walkout in England would have an impact.

At the end of December there were approaching 55,000 people waiting for longer than 18 months, but by late February that figure had dropped to below 33,000.

Sir Stephen said this was a “huge achievement” especially given it has been winter, which is the busiest time of year for emergency care.

“The NHS will not stop in its efforts to bring down 18-month waits, but it is inevitable the upcoming junior doctors’ strikes will have a significant impact.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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