Hospitals report ‘extreme pressure’ as junior doctors continue strike

Hospitals have reported being “exceptionally busy” as junior doctors in England stage the longest strike in NHS history.

Services across England are facing “significant demand” on the first of a six-day walkout by junior doctors.

One hospital has declared a critical incident while others reported significant waits in A&E departments – with one hospital saying patients may need to wait “up to 11 hours”.

Health service leaders warned that the impact of strikes could be felt for “weeks and months” as appointments are rescheduled and the service works to catch up on lost time.

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Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said that the strike coincides with “one of the busiest and most challenging weeks of the year” as the NHS grapples with increased pressure from winter viruses and a rise in people coming forward who delayed seeking help over the holidays.

It comes as:

– Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth said that its A&E department was “full” as it declared a critical incident.

– Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said it was facing “extreme pressure” with waiting times in A&E of “up to 11 hours”.

– Warwick Hospital warned that it is under “extreme heightened pressure” while Airedale Hospital said its emergency department is “exceptionally busy”.

– Health officials in Wigan said emergency services were “very busy” and that doctors were seeing “a lot of minor illnesses that could’ve been treated elsewhere such as a GP surgery or pharmacy.”

– Leeds Teaching Hospitals warned that its hospitals are “under significant pressure.”

– Health officials in East Sussex, South Tees, Gateshead, Greater Manchester, Berkshire, Rotherham and The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, have also reported being “busy”.

But NHS officials stressed that people should still seek care when they need it.

Sir Stephen said: “As the longest strike in the history of the NHS begins during one of the busiest and most challenging weeks of the year – the health service is experiencing the winter pressures of flu and Covid combined with the huge disruption of industrial action.

“We know hospitals are already experiencing significant demand. with other NHS services also under immense pressure, and although staff are doing the very best for patients with extensive preparations in place, there is no denying the NHS has started the year in a very difficult position.

“This latest round of strike action will not only have an impact on this week but will have an ongoing effect on the weeks and months ahead as we struggle to recover services and cope with heavy demand.

“Our message for patients remains the same – continue to come forward for care using 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else.”

Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for transformation at NHS England, told the PA news agency that officials had spent weeks doing “intensive preparation” for the strike.

“We have been prioritising emergency care as we have done during previous industrial action,” he said.

“So we have emphasised to the public that if they have got a life-threatening illness they should continue to call 999, if they are worried that they are unwell but it is not an emergency then to use 111 online or 111 or to make an appointment with your GP or use your community pharmacy.

“Where we will see the greatest impact is on patients waiting for any form of planned care – those coming in for an operation or an outpatient appointment.

“It’s likely that the impact is not just going to be for the current period of industrial action it is going to go on for several weeks afterwards.”

He said that the impact could go on for weeks due to lost doctor time due to industrial action, booking in rescheduled appointments and consultants catching up on their normal workload, which they were unable to do while covering for striking colleagues.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “January is typically the busiest time of the year for the NHS and these strikes will have a serious impact on patients across the country.

“I urge the BMA Junior Doctors Committee to call off their strikes and come back to the negotiating table so we can find a fair and reasonable solution to end the strikes once and for all.”

Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, told the PA news agency: “I hope they (the Government) come back to the table now – but from all of the signals they are sending it won’t be until our strike action finishes. And I hope at that point we can come to a resolution.”

Conciliation service Acas said it “remains in contact” with all parties involved.

Acas chief executive Susan Clews said: “Acas remains in contact with all parties to the junior doctors’ dispute.

“They are aware of the value that third-party assistance can bring, and that we have a team of experts who are well prepared and ready to help with the dispute.”

Of the 1,219,422 acute inpatient and outpatient appointment cancellations since the current period of strikes began, more than three-quarters (77%) have been on days where junior doctors have taken industrial action either by themselves or with other groups.

The BMA said junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008.

Last summer, the Government gave junior doctors in England an average rise of 8.8%, but medics said the increase was not enough and ramped up strike efforts.

Late last year the Government and junior doctors entered talks, but after five weeks of negotiations the negotiations broke down and more strikes were called.

Junior doctors from the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association union will join colleagues on picket lines.

Consultants and speciality and associate specialist (SAS) doctors have agreed on a deal with the Government, which is being put to members.