Doctors' unions face £1m fine if patients put at risk

UNIONS that fail to provide enough doctors on strike days could be hit with fines of £1million under new laws to stop patients' lives being put in danger.

-  Sam Lister

Thousands of appointments and operations have been cancelled as junior doctors and consultants stage the first joint strike in NHS history today.

But health chiefs warned the situation is "dangerous" as hospitals scramble to find enough staff to provide basic care.

Downing Street said patients' safety has been "put at risk" and called on the British Medical Association to "step back" from the industrial action. Health Secretary Steve Barclay has announced new minimum service laws that will force unions of doctors and nurses to provide a minimum level of cover.

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