NHS Walkouts: Hospitals to Rearrange Cancelled Appointments within Two Weeks

Strategic Insights -

The NHS has announced that hospitals will attempt to reschedule appointments within two weeks after strikes are cancelled. This comes as 50,000 resident doctors joined a five-day walkout, demanding a 29 per cent pay rise. The strike has already led to over 1.5 million appointments and operations being postponed since 2022. NHS England's co-national medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, assured that hospitals will try their utmost best to reschedule appointments within two weeks. However, she acknowledged that two weeks is too long for some patients, causing distress and displacement.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hospitals will attempt to reschedule cancelled appointments within two weeks after strikes are cancelled.
  • Over 1.5 million appointments and operations have been postponed due to NHS walkouts since 2022.
  • The strike, led by 50,000 resident doctors, demands a 29 per cent pay rise.
  • NHS England has granted three "derogations" on Friday, allowing hospitals to request striking doctors to return to work in case of patient safety risks.
  • The British Medical Association (BMA) has agreed to exempt doctors in specific situations, including neonatal intensive care and emergency departments, to ensure patient safety.
  • The BMA is pushing for full "pay restoration" as real-terms pay has fallen by around 20 per cent since 2008.
  • The NHS will change its stance on doctors working during strikes, requiring them to work to protect patient safety and warning them that repeated absence could slow their career progression.
  • Previous strikes allowed doctors to earn large sums through overtime rates and work as locums, but the NHS will now require more doctors to work during strikes.

Statistics:

  • 50,000 resident doctors joined the five-day walkout.
  • Over 1.5 million appointments and operations have been postponed since 2022.
  • Real-terms pay has fallen by around 20 per cent since 2008.
  • The NHS has granted three "derogations" on Friday.

Sources:

  • "BMA: 50,000 resident doctors in five-day walkout." - BBC News
  • "NHS England: Hospitals to reschedule appointments within two weeks." - NHS England press release
  • "BMA: Real-terms pay has fallen by around 20 per cent since 2008." - British Medical Association press release
  • "The Telegraph: NHS to change stance on doctors working during strikes." - The Telegraph article
  • "BBC Radio 4: Dr Tom Dolphin, BMA council chairman." - BBC Radio 4's Today programme