Fear doctors' strike will make winter crisis worse

LIFE-SAVING work to prevent a winter crisis in the NHS has been held back by the doctors' strikes, senior insiders have warned.

- David Williamson

There is concern that the vital preparation work which should have gone ahead in the past two months has been derailed.

Top figures also fear that millions of pounds provided to strengthen the health service may be used to cover the cost of the strikes.

The BMA has been urged to stop "putting patients in harm's way" and end the strikes.

With winter around the corner and the dispute unresolved, a senior figure in Whitehall warned: "We are going into the skid."

However, the BMA has said it is prepared to "continue striking until the next general election". Junior doctors first went out on strike in March, with consultants starting industrial action in July.