The first set of strikes ran from 3rd January 7am to the 9th of January 7 am, making them the longest running strikes in 75 years of NHS history. Hospitals and doctors have been forced to cancel over 200,000 appointments and operations due to the strikes, as staff can not operate under the never-ending workload. Widnes resident…
The first set of strikes ran from 3rd January 7am to the 9th of January 7 am, making them the longest running strikes in 75 years of NHS history.
Hospitals and doctors have been forced to cancel over 200,000 appointments and operations due to the strikes, as staff can not operate under the never-ending workload.
Widnes resident Gemma Fowler, 83, said: “It has been a nightmare for me recently, I have been in a lot of pain and just can’t get hold of the doctors for any appointment.”
She added: “I am an old woman and I have struggled with my health issues for a while now, I have just had cataract surgery just a couple weeks ago and it just seems to be getting worse and worse but it is taking too long for an appointment to come.”
Liverpool Royal Hospital
The BMA’s second six-month legal mandate for striking expires on February 29th. However, leaders of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) plan to announce soon a third ballot for even further striking will take place.
Recent voting has been in high favour of striking, with 98% of junior doctors backing the first ballot, with 98% reinstating the strikes during the second ballot in the summer.
Miss Fowler said: “Everyone has their own problems; I do believe there needs to be change in pay for doctors but there needs to be more support shown for the people.”
“People are missing out on really important appointments. We are suffering over here and there needs to be a change to support us more.”
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has said the demanded 35% pay rise is “simply unaffordable” with the current economic state of the country.
She also described the BMA as “unreasonable,” and the demands of the JDC would stoke inflation and completely outweigh other public sector pay.
NHS Merseyside and Cheshire currently have just over 10,000 patients waiting more than28 days for a GP appointment, one of the lowest in the country however, this is expected to change if the strikes continue.
By Lucas McGrath
The original published article can be accessed Here.