Junior doctor strikes to cause ‘unparalleled levels of disruption’ – NHS boss

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Four days of strikes by junior doctors next week will cause “unparalleled levels of disruption”, the NHS national medical director has warned.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis said he was “very concerned” about the potential severity of the impact on patients, with hospitals facing nearly 100 hours without up as much as half of their medical workforce.

Up to a quarter of a million appointments and operations could be postponed when medics in England walk out in the bitter dispute over pay on Tuesday, straight after the Easter bank holiday weekend, the NHS Confederation said. READ MORE: 'Ofsted stress gave me a heart condition - but I won't give up on these kids': The Salford head slamming watchdog's 'regime of fear' The British Medical Association said the industrial action could still be avoided if the Government makes a “credible offer”, but the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has insisted the strikes must be called off before any negotiations take place.

Professor Sir Stephen said: “This next round of strikes will see unparalleled levels of disruption, and we are very concerned about the potential severity of impact on patients and services across the country. “This time the action immediately follows a four-day bank holiday weekend, which is already difficult as many staff are taking much-needed holiday, and it will be more extensive than ever before with hospitals facing nearly 100 hours without up to half of the NHS medical workforce." He said the NHS would continue to prioritise emergency, critical and neonatal care, as well as maternity and trauma services, but inevitably hundreds of thousands of appointments, including in cancer care, would need to be postponed again.