NHS Confederation responds to data showing the impact of industrial action from junior doctors, radiographers and consultants

Responding to the latest NHS data showing the impact of joint industrial action from junior doctors, radiographers and consultants, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said: 

“As the total number operations and appointments cancelled due to industrial action reaches 1.2 million, which in actuality may be more than twice as high due to trusts not booking activity in the first place, health leaders could be forgiven for wondering at what point will that number become unacceptable enough for the BMA and government to bring an end to this. 
 
“How many more patients must experience a cancellation? How many must see their operation postponed more than once? How much higher than £1.3bn must the bill for this get? How many more cancer patients must be left waiting until this is bought to a close? 
 
“NHS leaders repeatedly do all they can to mitigate the impact of strikes, but it is an increasingly difficult and frustrating battle. Backlogs are not the fault of those striking, but with the waiting list standing at 7.7m, unless this dispute is resolved ahead of the truly difficult winter months, there is next to zero chance of the Prime Minister’s pledge to bring the list down being met. 
 
“We’ve seen the BMA make tentative moves towards ending this dangerous deadlock, via an olive branch proposing talks to end the dispute with consultants mediated by Acas, and we’d strongly encourage the government to grab it with both hands. 
 
“While doing so might not be a solution in and of itself, it would offer some hope to an increasingly demoralised workforce and exasperated patients, who just want to see the NHS working as it should.”